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BX  9211  .H2  E63  1894     ~" 
Stewart,  George  B.  1854- 

1932, 
Centennial  memorial,  Englis 

^^®^iteL^.^.^.^^  ..^.^ncfreaation. 


Engi-Ish  Presbyterian  Church. 

market  square. 
Erected  1858-59. 


1794 1894. 

CENTENNIAL  MEMORIAL 

ENGLISH 
Presbyterian  Congregation, 

HAEEISBURG,  PA. 


Geo.  B.  Stewart,  Editor. 


HARRISBURG,  PA.: 
Harrisburg  Publishing  Co. 

1894. 


HARRISBUR6  DAILY  TELEGRAPH 

Print. 


PEEFATORY. 

Pursuant  to  a  resolution  of  the  Centennial  Committee, 
the  following  account  of  the  Centennial  services  is  given 
to  the  public.  The  work  of  editing,  entrusted  to  Rev. 
Dr.  George  B,  Stewart,  has  been  done  with  conscientious 
fidelity  to  fact,  and  in  a  manner  as  gratifying  to  the  com- 
mittee as  it  will  no  doubt  be  to  the  Congregation. 

M.  W.  McAlarney,  Chairman. 
E.  J.  Stackpole, 
Charles  H.  Bergner, 
Samuel  C.  Miller, 
Henry  C.  Spicer. 


TABLE  OF  COE"TENTS. 


INTRODUCTION. 


Preliminary  Work, 1 

Decorations  and  Historical  Exhibit 11 

Centennial  Committee, 15 

Centennial  Choir,      17 

Order  of  Services,     18 

Programme  of  Organ  Recitals, 27 

CENTENNIAL  WEEK. 

Sunday  Morning, 33 

Beginning'  of  Presbyterianism  in  the  Middle  Colonies,    ...  37 

Sunday  Evening, 63 

Mr.  George  E.  Sterry's  Address, 67 

Rev.  Dr.  Robinson's  Address,     76 

The  Pastor's  Address, 80 

Monday  Evening,     86 

Communion  Address, 87 

Tuesday  Evening, 93 

Hymnology  of  the  Mother  Presbyterian  Church, 97 

The  Musical  Festival, 107 

Some  Additional  Reminiscences, 112 

Wednesday  Evening, 126 

Address  by  Rev.  Albert  B.  Williamson, 127 

Address  by  Rev.  Geo.  B.  Stewart, 132 

Address  by  Jacob  F.  Seller,  Ph.  D., 148 

Address  by  Mr.  Cassius  M.  Brown, 159 

Address  by  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Garland 167 

Address  by  Rev.  Geo.  S.  Duncan,  .    .    • 176 

Address  by  Rev.  William  P.  Patterson,     180 

Thursday  Evening, 189 

"A  Century  Plant," 192 

Friday  Evening, 275 

Remarks  by  Dr.  William  C.  Cattell, 279 

Remarks  by  Major-General  George  R.  Snowden, 286 

Remarks  by  Col.  J.  Ross  Thompson, 290 

Remarks  by  Rev.  Henry  E.  Niles,  D.  D., 295 

Remarks  by  Mr.  W.  Franklin  Rutherford, 300 


vi  Contents. 

Centennial  Greetings, 304 

God's  sure  covenant, 304 

Resolutions  adopted  by  Elder  Street  Church, 307 

Letter  from  Judge  Joseph  Allison, 309 

Letter  from  Mr.  D.  C.  Buchanan,      310 

Letter  from  Rev.  Joseph  R.  Vance,  D.  D., 314 

Letter  from  Mrs.  Mary  M.  McArthur, 315 

Letter  from  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Niccolls,  D.  D., 316 

Letter  from  Rev.  Robert  F.  McClean, 316 

Our  Second  Century, 319 

Characteristics  of  a  True  Pastor  and  a  True  Church,  ....  320 

The  Duty  of  our  Second  Century, 336 

APPENDIX. 

A  Century  of  Pastors, 355-368 

A  Century  of  Elders, 373-399 

The  Charter  of  the  Corporation, 401 

Action  of  the  Congregation  in  1838, 406 

Forms  in  use  during  Dr.  DeWitt's  Pastorate, 412 

Pastors, 416 

Elders, 416 

Deacons, ....  417 

Trustees,     .417 

Church  Choir, 419 

Roll  of  Communicants, 420 

Officers, 428 

Members  Received, 429 

Presbyterian  Colors, 430 

Rev.  John  Roan's  School, 430 


INTRODUCTION. 


CENTENNIAL  MEMORIAL. 


PRELIMINARY  WORK. 


A  CENTURY  of  history  must  be  insignificant  indeed  if  it 
is  not  worth  recording.  A  church  whose  history  stretches 
over  a  century  ought  to  have  a  story  to  tell.  Especially 
if  the  century  has  been  lived  in  these  last  days  when 
every  year  is  crowded  with  great  events,  and  life  is  full 
of  intense  activity.  Hence  it  was  that  on  September 
14th,  1891,  the  Session  of  the  English  Presbyterian  Con- 
gregation of  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  commonly  known 
as  the  Market  Square  Church,  resolved  to  celebrate  in  a 
fitting  manner  the  Centennial  anniversary  of  the  founding 
of  their  church,  February  16th,  1794.  As  a  first  step  in  the 
execution  of  this  purpose  they  invited  Rev.  Thomas  H. 
Robinson,  D.  D.,  Reunion  Professor  of  Sacred  Rhetoric, 
Church  Government,  and  Pastoral  Theology  in  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary  of  Allegheny,  Pennsylvania,  to  de- 
liver a  historical  address  on  that  occasion.  This  choice 
was  eminently  wise,  since  Dr.  Robinson's  long  connection 
with  this  church  as  its  fourth  pastor,  and  his  fondness  for 
historical  study,  had  given  him  much  familiarity  with  the 
church  and  the  community.  Though  the  selection  was 
made  at  an  early  date,  it  allowed  none  too  long  a  time  for 
the  performance  of  the  onerous  task  laid  upon  him. 


2  Centennial  Memorial. 

Several  months  later,  on  May  1st,  1893,  the  Session  re- 
solved to  call  a  meeting  of  the  three  official  boards  of  the 
church  for  the  purpose  of  further  considering  the  proper 
celebration  of  the  Centennial.  This  meeting  was  held  in 
the  parlor  of  the  church  on  May  15th,  1893.  There  were 
present:  George  B.  Stewart,  Minister;  Jacob  A.  Miller,  J. 
Henry  Spicer,  John  C.  Harvey,  Elders;  Robert  H.  Moffitt, 
M.  Wilson  McAlarney,  Trustees;  Jacob  J.  Franck,  David 
Fleming,  Luther  R.  Kelker,  Samuel  C.  Miller,  Melancthon 
S.  Shotwell,  Peter  K.  Sprenkel,  Deacons.  The  pastor  was 
made  Chairman  of  the  meeting,  and  Dr.  Jacob  A.  Miller, 
Clerk.  After  a  full  discussion  of  the  subject,  it  was  resolved 
to  endorse  the  action  of  the  Session,  and  to  celebrate  the 
Centennial  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  church  by 
appropriate  exercises  during  the  week  beginning  February 
11th,  1894.  It  was  further  decided  that  there  shoul'd  be  a 
Centennial  Committee,  together  with  various  sub-commit- 
tees, for  the  purpose  of  making  the  necessary  arrangements 
for  this  celebration,  the  Chairmen  of  the  sub-committees, 
together  with  the  general  Chairman,  to  constitute  the  Cen- 
tennial Committee.  The  Pastor,  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart, 
D.  D.,  was  chosen  General  Chairman.  The  meeting  then 
adjourned  to  the  evening  of  May  29th,  1893,  for  the  further 
consideration  of  the  arrangements. 

On  May  29th,  1893,  the  second  meeting  of  the  officers  was 
held  pursuant  to  adjournment.    The  following  were  present : 

George  B.  Stewart,  Minister ;  Jacob  A.  Miller,  J.  Henry 
Spicer,  John  C.  Harvey,  Elders;  M.  Wilson  McAlarney, 
Trustee ;  Charles  W.  Foster,  Luther  R.  Kelker,  Samuel  C. 
Miller,  Melancthon  S.  Shotwell,  Peter  K.  Sprenkel,  Deacons. 


Introduction.  3 

The  following  sub-committees  and  their  chairmen  were 
appointed : 

Invitation  Committee — Charles  L.  Bailey,  Chairman. 
Programme  Committee — Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell,  Chairman. 
Entertainment  Committee — Gilbert  M.  McCauley,  Chairman. 
Publication  Committee — M.  Wilson  McAlarney,  Chairman. 
Finance  Committee — Samuel  W.  Fleming,  Chairman. 
Decoration  Committee — Mrs.  Isabella  S.  Kerr,  Chairman. 
Reception  Committee — Mrs.  Gilbert  M.  McCauley,  Chairman. 
Music  Committee — George  P.  Fleming,  Chairman. 
Ushers — Peter  K.  Sprenkel,  Chairman. 

The  names  of  the  several  committees  indicate  their  re- 
spective duties.  The  Programme  Committee  was  to  arrange 
a  proper  programme  of  events  for  the  celebration,  and  to 
have  charge  of  its  execution.  The  Invitation  Committee  to 
have  charge  of  extending  invitations  in  the  name  of  the 
congregation  to  its  friends.  The  Entertainment  Committee 
to  arrange  for  the  suitable  exercise  of  hospitality  by  the 
members  of  the  congregation  toward  its  guests.  The  Decor- 
ation Committee  to  have  charge  of  the  preparation  and  the 
decoration  of  the  church.  The  Music  Committee  to  direct 
the  musical  features  of  the  celebration.  The  Reception 
Committee  to  have  charge  of  a  social  reception.  The  Ushers 
to  serve  in  that  capacity  during  the  week.  The  Publication 
Committee  to  arrange  for  such  publications  as  might  be 
found  desirable  in  commemoration  of  the  occasion.  The 
Finance  Committee  to  provide  means  for  defraying  the  ex- 
penses. Of  all  these  committees  the  General  Chairman  was 
a  member  ex-officio,  and  all  committees  were  to  act  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Centennial  Committee.     The  scheme 


4  Centennial  Memorial. 

combined  the  advantages  of  a  single  responsible  head  with 
the  advantages  of  adequate  specialization.  The  Centennial 
Committee,  through  its  Chairman  and  several  members,  was 
in  close  touch  both  for  information  and  for  direction  with 
all  the  sub-committees,  while  the  sub-committees  each  had 
their  definite  and  well  understood  duties. 

The  Pastor  was  requested  to  inform  the  congregation  on 
the  following  Wednesday  evening.  May  31st,  of  the  action  of 
their  officers,  and  invite  their  co-operation  in  making  the 
celebration  worthy  of  the  occasion.  After  authorizing  the 
Centennial  Committee  to  fill  up  the  sub-committees,  the 
further  arrangements  were  entrusted  to  the  committees,  and 
the  joint  meeting  of  the  officers  adjourned. 

On  the  following  Wednesday  evening,  the  Pastor,  as  re- 
quested by  the  officers,  addressed  the  congregation  on  the 
subject,  and  there  was  cordial  and  universal  approval  of  the 
action  of  the  officers  in  planning  for  the  fitting  observance 
of  the  first  centennial  of  the  church. 

On  September  22d,  1893,  the  first  meeting  of  the  Centen- 
nial Committee  was  held  in  the  parlor  of  the  church.  Mr. 
Peter  K.  Sprenkel  was  chosen  secretary  of  the  committee. 
This  date  was  the  beginning  of  the  active  work  of  the  com- 
mittees. From  this  time  until  the  celebration  was  com- 
pleted they  were  busy  planning  and  executing  the  various 
details  incident  to  such  an  undertaking. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  bestowed  upon  these  commit- 
tees. They  worked  with  great  diligence,  with  unceasing 
fidelity,  with  imperturbable  good  nature,  and  with  discrim- 
inating judgment.  The  perfection  of  the  arrangements  even 
to  the  minutest  detail,  the  entire  absence  of  friction,  and  the 


Introduction.  5 

complete  success  of  the  whole  celebration  gave  abundant 
evidence  of  their  ability  and  faithfulness. 

The  work  of  the  committees  almost  from  the  first  was  deter- 
mined by  certain  leading  ideas,  and  aimed  at  certain  definite 
results.  While  this  was  to  be  the  Centennial  of  the  English 
Presbyterian  Congregation,  the  mother  of  Presbyterianism  in 
Harrisburg,  nevertheless,  our  wish  was  to  have  all  the  Pres- 
byterian churches  of  the  city  enjoy  with  us  the  pleasure  of 
the  occasion.  This  thought  was  kept  prominently  before  the 
committees,  shaped  many  features  of  the  programme,  and 
prompted  the  Union  Communion  Service.  The  pastors 
and  all  the  officers  of  the  Presbyterian  churches  and  their 
families  were  personally  invited,  and  a  formal  invitation  to 
all  of  the  Events  was  extended  through  their  church  Ses- 
sions to  the  several  congregations. 

As  the  church  has  always  given  a  prominent  place  to 
music  in  its  services,  and  has  been  favorably  known  for  the 
high  character  and  attractiveness  of  its  music  throughout 
all  of  its  history,  it  seemed  eminently  apjDropriate  that 
special  prominence  should  be  given  to  music  during  the  cel- 
ebration. This  led  the  Music  Committee  to  plan  a  musical 
festival  of  a  high  order,  and  to  arrange  for  exceptional  mus- 
ical features  in  the  other  services.  A  large  Centennial  Choir 
was  organized,  composed  of  our  own  and  singers  from  the 
Pine  Street  Presbyterian  choir,  with  ]\Ir.  George  R.  Fleming 
as  director,  and  Mr.  David  E.  Crozier  as  organist.  This 
choir,  b3Mts  skillful  rendering  of  beautiful  music  contributed 
in  a  large  degree  to  the  delightfulness  of  the  occasion. 

The  history  of  tlie  church  was  naturally  tlie  principal 
theme  of  the  occasion.     It  was  fitting  that  a  whole  evening 


6  Centennial  Memorial. 

should  be  set  apart  for  it.  Nevertheless  there  was  associate 
history  which  must  receive  attention  that  the  celebration 
might  be  complete.  Therefore,  the  occasion  was  appro- 
priately inaugurated  by  an  address  on  "  The  Beginnings  of 
Presbyterianism  in  the  Middle  Colonies,"  by  the  Rev.  John 
DeWitt,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Professor  of  Church  History  in 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  and  the  eminent  son  of  the 
Rev.  William  R.  DeWitt,  D.  D.,  who  for  fifty  years  was  pas- 
tor of  the  church.  And  an  evening  was  devoted  to  the  past 
history  and  present  condition  of  the  several  Presbyterian 
churches  whose  life  is  directly  connected  with  this  church, 
and  to  the  present  condition  of  this  church. 

That  the  congregation  might  have  the  pleasure  of  renew- 
ing acquaintance  with  former  members  and  friends  in 
attendance  upon  the  celebration,  and  that  delightful  fellow- 
ship might  characterize  the  occasion,  an  evening  was  set 
apart  to  social  festivities. 

As  the  church  has  a  history  already  written  and  preserv- 
ed in  monuments  of  the  past,  it  was  arranged  to  have  an 
historical  exhibition  of  church  relics,  pictures,  books,  mu- 
sical instruments,  diagrams  of  pews,  and  memorabilia  of 
pastors  and  officers.  This  exhibition  was  displayed  in  the 
church  parlor,  and  was  an  attractive  feature  of  the  celebra- 
tion. It  is  probably  not  saying  too  much  to  record  that  the 
plan  proved  to  be  a  most  symmetrical  and  harmonious 
blending  of  varied  and  necessary  features  of  such  an  occa- 
sion. 

By  beginning  the  celebration  on  Sunday,  February  11th, 
and  concluding  it  on  Friday,  February  16th,  the  two  dates 
especially  connected  with  the  organization   of  the  church 


Introduction.  7 

were  commemorated.  For  it  was  on  Tuesday,  February 
11th,  179-4,  that  the  first  Bench  of  Elders  in  the  congrega- 
tion was  elected,  and  on  Sunday,  February  16th,  1794,  that 
they  were  ordained  to  their  sacred  office. 

Invitations  were  sent  in  the  name  of  the  congregation  to 
members  of  the  church  not  residing  in  the  city,  to  former 
members  so  far  as  their  address  could  be  ascertained,  to 
descendants  of  former  Pastors  and  officers,  to  members 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  the  officers  of  the  Synod 
of  Pennsylvania  and  ot  the  General  Assembly,  to  former 
Pastors  of  the  other  Presbyterian  churches  in  the  city  and 
other  Presbyterian  ministers  having  had  some  relation  with 
this  church,  the  editors  of  the  Presbyterian  religious  jour- 
nals, to  the  Pastors  and  officers  of  the  city  Presbyterian 
churches,  to  all  the  clergymen  of  the  city,  without  distinc- 
tion of  creed  or  race.  It  wps  the  intention  of  the  congrega- 
tion to  celebrate  the  occasion  on  the  broadest  lines  of 
catholicity,  and  their  desire  to  have  all  their  friends  enjoy 
with  them  the  pleasures  of  the  celebration. 

The  Committee  on  Programme  prepared  a  full  descriptive 
programme  and  had  it  printed  as  an  elegant  souvenir. 

Centennial  week  arrived.  Everything  was  in  readiness. 
The  decorations  of  auditorium,  lecture-room,  and  parlor, 
under  the  skillful  guidance  of  the  committee  in  charge  were 
harmonious,  appropriate,  complete.  The  ushers  were  organ- 
ized for  their  onerous  duty  of  caring  for  the  comfort  of  the 
large  audiences  anticipated.  Nothing  remained  to  be  done. 
There  were  no  last  things  to  be  thought  of  and  no  hurried 
final  arrangements. 

On    the    morning   of    Sunday,  February  11th,  the  sun 


8  Centennial  Memorial. 

shone  forth  beautifully  upon  the  crisp  and  not  severely  cold 
air.  Everything  to  be  desired  in  the  weather  was  found. 
The  day  remained  perfect  to  its  close.  It  was  a  most 
auspicious  beginning.  Joy  seemed  to  be  in  the  very  atmos- 
phere, and  friend  remarked  to  friend  as  they  met  on  the 
way  to  the  house  of  God  :  "  We  could  not  have  had  a  more 
beautiful  day."  That  this  weather  should  continue  through- 
out the  whole  of  the  second  week  of  this  winter  month  was 
not  to  be  expected.  It  was  not  surprising,  therefore,  that 
Monday  brought  with  it  a  violent  snowstorm.  The  storm 
raged  throughout  the  day  and  night,  and  with  longer  or 
shorter  intervals  continued  through  Thursday  of  the  week. 
On  Friday  the  heavens  were  bright  and  the  sun  was  warm. 
With  the  exception  of  Monday  evening  when  the  storm 
was  especially  violent,  the  size  of  the  audiences  was  not 
affected  by  the  weather.  Though  many  would  have  attend- 
ed the  services  had  the  weather  been  more  propitious,  yet 
with  the  single  exception  mentioned,  more  could  hardly 
have  been  accommodated.  The  church  was  on  some  even- 
ings crowded,  and  many  were  turned  away. 

The  programme  was  carried  out  as  printed  with  only  some 
slight  modifications  made  necessary  at  the  last  moment.  The 
sole  important  change  in  the  programme  of  the  week  was 
due  to  the  sudden  illness  of  Hon.  Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell, 
who  was  to  have  presented  at  the  Wednesday  evening 
meeting  the  paper  setting  forth  the  present  condition  of 
this  church.  In  the  emergency  the  Pastor  took  his  place 
both  in  the  preparation  of  the  paper  and  in  presenting  it. 

On  each  morning  during  the  Centennial  Week,  from  11 
to  12  o'clock,  Mr.  David  E.  Crozier  gave  an  informal  organ 


Introduction.  9 

recital.  These  recitals  comprised  selections  from  the  best 
composers  for  the  organ,  chiefly  those  of  the  German  and 
French  schools.  Every  day  except  Monday,  when  the 
"weather  was  especially  inclement,  the  audience  was  large 
and  its  interest  in  the  recitals  manifested  by  close  attention 
and  numerous  requests  for  favorite  pieces.  These  recitals 
were  a  most  delightful  feature  of  the  celebration. 

The  historical  exhibition  in  the  parlor  attracted  large 
numbers  of  visitors,  who  received  valuable  object  lessons 
in  church  history  in  general,  and  the  history  of  the  Market 
Square  church  in  particular,  from  the  curios  and  relics 
displayed. 

From  Sunday  morning  until  Friday  night  this  centenary 
celebration  was  a  season  of  unbroken  joy.  It  was  in  all 
its  features  a  brilliant  success.  Throughout  there  was  a  deep 
and  true  sense  of  gratitude  to  the  risen  and  adorable  Lord, 
the  Head  of  the  Church,  for  his  multiplied  goodness  and 
grace  toward  this  congregation  during  all  its  history  and  in 
the  present  moment.  It  was  pre-eminently  an  occasion  for 
rejoicing  before  the  Lord.  All  the  people  praised  him  in 
his  sanctuary  for  his  mighty  acts  according  to  his  excellent 
greatness.     "  This  honor  have  all  his  saints." 

This  story  of  the  Centennial  would  not  be  complete  with- 
out mention  of  the  most  delightful  closing  of  the  work  of 
the  Centennial  Committee.  On  AVednesday  afternoon,  Feb- 
ruary 28th,  at  4  o'clock,  the  committee  met  at  Mrs.  Isabella 
S.  Kerr's  in  final  session.  There  were  present  Mrs.  Kerr, 
Mrs.  McCauley,  Messrs.  Stewart,  Bailey,  McAlarney,  Me- 
Cauley,  Samuel  "W.  Fleming,  George  R.  Fleming  and 
Sj)renkel.     Mr.  McCarrell  was  the  only  member  of  the  com- 


10  Centennial  Memorial. 

mittee  not  present,  being  at  Atlantic  City  for  a  season  of 
rest.  Reports  of  the  work  of  the  several  sub-committees 
were  made  by  their  respective  chairmen.  These  reports 
were  all  approved,  the  committees  commended,  and  expenses 
ordered  paid  by  the  Finance  Committee.  This  committee 
reported  that  voluntary  contributions  had  been  made  by  the 
congregation  to  an  amount  sufficient  to  meet  all  the  ex- 
penses incurred.  The  committee  then  "  adjourned  without_ 
day." 

After  adjournment,  together  with  Mrs.  George  B.  Stewart, 
Miss  Rachel  T.  Briggs,  Miss  Mary  W.  Kerr,  Rev.  David  M. 
Skilling  and  Mr.  David  E.  Crozier,  especially  invited,  the 
committee  sat  down  as  the  guests  of  Mrs.  Kerr  to  an  elegant 
supper.  It  was  a  most  enjoyable  hour  and  a  delightful  and 
fitting  conclusion  to  the  arduous  but  pleasant  work  of  the 
committee. 

The  Centennial  is  a  thing  of  the  past,  but  the  memory  of 
it  will  linger  in  the  mind  of  every  one  participating  in  it  as 
a  precious  treasure  never  to  be  lost.  The  monument  is 
reared.  The  praises  of  a  grateful  people  for  the  goodness  of 
God  are  inscribed  thereon.  Whatever  He  may  have  seen  in 
it  or  us  that  was  unworthy  may  He  forgive.  To  glorify 
Him  in  the  earth  and  hasten  His  kingdom  was  the  purpose 
of  it  all.  May  He  be  pleased  to  accept  the  purpose  as  an 
ample  mantle  wherewith  to  cover  the  imperfections  in  its 
execution.     "  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us." 

"  This  shall  be  known  when  we  are  dead, 

And  left  on  long  record, 
That  ages  yet  unborn  may  read, 

And  trust,  and  praise  the  Lord." 


O    cj 


DECORATIONS  AND  HISTORICAL  EXHIBIT. 


The  ornate  auditorium  of  the  church  was  greatly  beauti- 
fied by  the  tasteful  and  appropriate  decorations  made  for 
the  occasion,  under  the  direction  of  the  Decoration  Com- 
mitte.  The  central  feature  was  the  pulpit.  From  the 
Corinthian  capitals  of  the  columns  there  hung  in  graceful 
lines  smilax  and  asparagus  fern.  On  the  two  side  columns 
were  suspended  blue  banners,  on  which  in  gilt  letters  were 
inscribed  "  Jesus  Christ  and  Him  Crucified,"  and  "  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Chief  Corner-stone."  The  arch  which  spans 
the  pulpit  recess  was  draped  with  blue  and  red  bunting' 
which  furnished  a  background  for  the  bright  lettering 
of  the  two  mottoes,  "  Vox  Clamantis  in  Deserto "  and 
"  Philadelphia  Maneto,"  meaning  respectively,  "  The  Voice 
of  One  Crying  in  the  Wilderness,"  and  "  Let  Brotherly 
Love  Continue."  In  and  about  the  pulpit  were  century 
plants.  The  varied  green  of  these  harmonized  with  the 
lillies,  roses  and  other  cut  flowers  renewed  from  day  to 
day. 

In  the  two  front  angles  of  the  room  were  red  and  blue 
banners  bearing  the  historic  names  of  John  Calvin  and 
John  Knox.  On  the  window  ledges,  in  gilt  letters  on  a 
background  of  blue  or  red,  were  the  names  of  Francis 
Herron,  Jonathan  Edwards,  John  Witherspoon,  John 
Rogers,  John  McMillan,  Archibald  Alexander,  David 
Elliot,  Charles  Hodge,  Albert  Barnes,  Philemon  Fowler, 
John  Elder,  Charles  Nisbet,  AVilliam  R.  DeWitt.     Many  of 


12  Centennial  Memorial. 

these  were  men  who  have  been  identified  with  this  church 
in  some  part  of  its  history,  and  many  were  men  whom  the 
whole  church  delighted  to  honor.  The  red  and  blue,  the 
colors  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church,  were  prominent 
also  in  the  decorations  of  the  choir  gallery  in  the  rear  of 
the  auditorium.  The  front  of  the  gallery  was  covered  with 
blue  bunting,  fluted  in  vertical  lines  and  drawn  together  at 
regular  intervals,  and  fastened  with  red  bows  midway  be- 
tween top  and  base.  The  effect  was  heightened  by  the 
delicate  green  of  the  licopodium  and  the  sheen  of  the  rho- 
dodendron leaves.  A  line  of  ground  pine  ran  around  the 
wainscoting,  windows  and  doorways,  making  a  pretty 
border  of  living  green  for  the  woodwork. 

The  whole  was  a  poem  in  color.  The  prevailing  white  of 
the  room  lent  itself  sympathetically  to  the  red  and  blue  of 
the  decorations  and  to  the  green  of  plant  and  vine. 

The  tasteful  distribution  and  graceful  arrangement  of 
material  gave  a  sj'mmetrical  completeness  to  the  design. 
The  historical  appropriateness  of  mottoes  and  names,  added 
intellectual  finish  to  the  Eesthetic  effect.  Color,  form, 
significance,  all  conspired  to  produce  an  effect,  full  of 
delight,  and  "  whispered  of  peace,  and  truth,  and  friendli- 
ness unequalled." 

As  one  passed  from  the  auditorium  into  the  lecture-room 
and  parlor,  still  further  evidence  of  the  decoration  commit- 
tee's activity  was  seen.  On  the  walls  of  the  former  room  to 
the  right  of  the  platform  were  a  large  water-colored  picture 
of  the  present  church  edifice  and  a  large  crayon  portrait  of 
Rev.  Thomas  Hastings  Robinson,  D.  D.,  pastor  from  1854 
to    1884,     To   the  left  of  the  platform  were   large   crayon 


Decorations  and  Historical  Exhibit.  13 

portraits  of  Rev.  William  RadclifFe  DeWitt,  D.  D.,  pastor 
from  1818  to  1867,  and  of  James  Wallace  Weir,  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school  from  1834  to  1878. 

The  parlor  walls  were  adorned  with  photographs  of  the 
first  and  second  church  edifices,  the  old  Court  house,  called 
"the  cradle  of  Sunday-school  enterprise  in  Harrisburg," 
Brant's  Hall,  in  which  the  congregation  worshiped  while 
the  present  edifice  was  being  constructed,  and  Calvary 
Chapel.  There  were  also  floor  plans  of  the  first  church, 
before  and  after  it  was  remodeled  in  1826,  and  the  second 
church.  Over  the  mantel  was  a  large  frame  containing  a 
photograph  of  the  present  pastor,  his  assistant  and  the  five 
elders  of  the  present  session.  On  one  of  the  sidewalls  was 
another  large  frame  containing  photographs  of  nineteen 
former  elders.  The  committee  found  that  there  are  no 
likenesses  in  existence  of  the  other  six  former  elders.  Near 
this  hung  a  crayon  loaned  by  Rev.  Henry  C.  McCook,  D.  D., 
of  Philadelphia,  showing  an  early  sacramental  occasion 
in  the  woods;  also  a  frame  containing  several  handsomely 
painted  church  seals;  another  frame  containing  pictures  of 
the  log  colleges  out  of  which  grew  Princeton  and  Jefferson, 
and  a  typical  pioneer  Scotch-Irish  school-house,  and  two 
flags  of  the  Scotch  Covenanter  Church,  all  loaned  by  Doctor 
McCook. 

In  large  glass  cases  there  were  gathered  and  carefully  pre- 
served many  early  records  and  relics  of  church  and  Sunday- 
school.  There  were  the  account  books  of  John  Kean, 
Treasurer  of  the  congregation  from  1790-1792,  old  receipts, 
lottery  tickets  used  in  the  lottery,  from  the  proceeds  of  which 
the  first  church  was  built,  the  first  Sunday-school  minute 


14  Centennial  Memorial. 

book,  a  complete  set  of  the  different  hymn  books  used  in 
the  church  lecture  room  and  Sunday-school,  several  of  the 
musical  instruments  used  in  the  choir,  the  communion  sets 
of  Paxtang  and  Derry  churches,  communion  tokens  form- 
erly in  use  in  these  congregations,  a  communion  cup  from 
old  Hanover  church,  printed  and  manuscript  sermons  by 
former  pastors.  Indeed  the  memorabilia  and  curios  were 
numbered  by  hundreds  and  cannot  be  mentioned,  much 
less  described.  Many  persons  in  the  city  and  out  of  it 
kindly  co-operated  with  the  committee  in  making  this 
interesting  collection — so  many,  in  fact,  that  it  is  impossible 
to  name  them  in  this  place.  The  exhibit  was  visible  history. 
It  told  the  story  of  the  church's  progress  from  primitive 
days  through  the  most  active  century  of  the  world's  life.  It 
revealed  that  this  church  has  kept  abreast  of  the  best 
thought  and  life.  It  has  evidently  not  marched  through 
the  years  with  laggard  steps. 


ro     O 


CENTENNIAL  COMMITTEE. 


Rev.  George  B.  Stewart,  D.  D. ,  Chairman ;  Samuel  J.  M. 
McCarrell,  M.  Wilson  McAlarney,  Mrs.  Isabella  S.  Kerr,  Peter 
K.  Spreukel,  Charles  L.  Bailey,  Gilbert  M.  McCauley,  Samuel 
W.  Fleming,  George  R.  Fleming,  Mrs.  Gilbert  M.  McCauley. 

Sub-Committees, 

Invitation  Committee.  —  Charles  L.  Bailey,  Chairman; 
David  Fleming,  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Briggs,  Mrs.  David  Flem- 
ing, Mrs.  George  B.  Stewart,  Alexander  Roberts,  John  H. 
Weiss,  Dr.  Jacob  A.  Miller,  Mrs.  Sarah  Doll,  Mrs.  Jacob 
Haldeman,  Miss  Sibyl  M.  Weir,  Samuel  D.  Ingram,  George 
W.  Boyd,  Lyman  D.  Gilbert. 

Programme  Committee. — S.  J.  M.  McCarrell,  Chairman; 
John  C.  Harvey,  David  Fleming,  Spencer  C.  Gilbert,  John  G. 
Orr,  Robert  H.  Moffitt. 

Entertainment  Committee. — G.  M.  McCauley,  Chairman  ; 
John  C.  Harvey. 

Publication  Committee.  —  M.  Wilson  McAlarney,  Chair- 
man; Charles  H.  Bergner,  Edward  J.  Stackpole,  J.  Henry 
Spicer,  Samuel  C.  Miller. 

Finance  Committee. — Samuel  W.  Fleming,  Chairman; 
Robert  H.  Moffitt,  Henry  C.  Orth,  Spencer  C.  Gilbert,  David 
Fleming,  Dr.  Cherrick  Westbrook,  Jr. 

Decoration  Committee. — Mrs.  Isabella  S.  Kerr,  Chairman ; 
Mrs.  Gilbert  M.  McCauley,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  C.  Kunkel,  Miss 
Carrie  Pearson,  Mrs,  William  O.  Hickok,  Jr.,  Mrs.  George  R. 
Fleming,   Mrs.  William  E.  Bailey,   Miss  Margaret  B.  Mowry, 


16  Centennial  Meinorial. 

Miss  Caroline  Reily,  Miss  Mary  W.  Kerr,  Melancthon  S.  Shot- 
well,  George  W.  Reiiy,  Miss  Anna  C.  Weir,  Mrs.  Edward 
Bailey,  Mrs.  Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell,  Miss  Rachel  T.  Briggs, 
Mrs.  Frank  R.  Schell,  Mrs.  John  C.  Harvey,  Mrs.  Samuel  C. 
Miller,  Miss  Sara  B.  Chayne,  Miss  Annie  R.  Kelker,  John  C. 
Harvey,  James  B.  Bailey,  William  E.  Bailey. 

Reception  Committee. — Mrs.  Gilbert  M.  McCauley,  Chair- 
man ;  Mrs.  Charles  H.  Bergner,  Mrs.  George  C.  Bent,  Mrs. 
Anna  M.  Bigler,  Mrs.  David  Fleming,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Dr.  Jacob  A. 
Miller,  Mrs.  Ellen  W.  Stees,  Mrs.  D.  Truman  Boyd,  Miss 
Maud  A.  Hench,  Mrs.  Luther  R.  Kelker,  Mrs.  David  Martin, 
Mrs.  Howard  F.  Martin,  Mrs.  Dr.  Henry  L.  Orth,  Mrs.  M. 
Wilson  McAlarney,  Miss  Caroline  B.  Sheafer,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Reily,  Mrs.  M.  Elizabeth  Cathcart,  Mrs.  Horace  A.  Chayne, 
Mrs.  Samuel  W.  Fleming,  Mrs.  Lyman  D.  Gilbert,  Miss  Ella 
L.  Hart,  Mrs.  J.  Henry  Spicer,  Miss  Mary  Vandling,  Mrs. 
John  H.  Weiss,  Mrs.  Henry  F.  Quickel,  Mrs.  Spencer  C. 
Gilbert. 

Music  Committee. — George  R.  Fleming,  Chairman;  Wil- 
liam G.  Underwood,  Mrs.  John  C.  Harvey,  David  E.  Crozier, 
Miss  Sara  B.  Chayne,  Miss  Margaret  B.  Mowry. 

Ushers. — Peter  K.  Sprenkel,  Chairman;  Charles  W.  Fos- 
ter, William  H.  Sharp,  Horace  A.  Chayne,  Melancthon  S. 
Shotwell,  William  M.  Fahnestock,  William  M.  Graydon,  Wil- 
liam H.  Shaffer,  Edward  J.  Stackpole,  Edward  Baily,  Samuel 
W.  Fleming,  Dr.  John  B.  McAlister,  Joseph  G.  Ewing,  B. 
Edward  Taylor,  Luther  R.  Kelker,  Charles  F.  Spicer,  Henry 
F.  Quickel,  Jacob  J.  Franck,  George  W.  Reily,  Warren  H. 
Wasson,  Dr.  Cherrick  Westbrook,  Jr.,  Lucian  Notestine, 
Edward  L.  Groff,  William  H.  Middleton,  Gilbert  M.  McCauley 


CENTENNIAL  CHOIR. 


George  R.  Fleming,  Director. 
David  E.  Crozier,   Organist. 

Soloists. — Miss  Rachel  T.  Briggs,  Miss  Reba  Bunton,  Miss 
Sara  B.  Chayne,  Miss  Helen  Espy,  Mr.  Edwaixl  Z.  Gross,  Mrs. 
Edward  Z.  Gross,  Miss  Lillian  M.  Kline,  Mr.  Wm.  G.  Under- 
wood, Mr.  Geo.  R.  Fleming. 

Soprano. — Miss  Helen  Espy,  Mrs.  David  Fleming,  Jr.,  Miss 
Addie  Geiger,  Mrs.  William  M.  Graydon,  Miss  Margaret  P. 
Grayson,  Mrs.  Edward  Z.  Gross,  Mrs.  Edward  J.  Hardy,  Miss 
Maud  A.  Hench,  Miss  Mary  Killough,  Miss  Lillian  M.  Kline, 
Mrs.  Gilbert  M.  McCauley,  Miss  Sara  J.  Miller,  Miss  Margaret 
B.  Mowry,  Miss  Marie  A.  Segelbaum,  Mrs.  Joshua  W.  Sharpe, 
Mrs.  J.  Henry  Spicer,  Miss  Elizabeth  F.  L.  Walker. 

Contralto. — Miss  Reba  Bunton,  Miss  Sara  B.  Chayne,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Given,  Miss  Louisa  Given,  Mrs.  John  C.  Harvey, 
Miss  Cora  L.  Snyder,  Miss  Mabel  E.  Vaughn. 

Tenor. — Mr.  David  Fleming,  Mr.  George  R.  Fleming,  Mr. 
Edward  Z.  Gross,  Mr.  Peter  K.  Sprenkel,  Mr.  Augustus  G. 
Shantz. 

Bass. — Mr.  J.  Roberts  Given,  Mr.  Henry  A.  Kelker,  Jr., 
Mr.  Harvey  J.  Miller,  Mr.  Samuel  C.  Miller,  Mr.  Geo.  B. 
Roberts,  Mr.  John  B.  Roberts,  Mr.  George  F.  Sharp,  Mr.  William 
G.  Underwood. 


ORDER  OF  SERVICES. 


SUNDAY  MORNING, 
February  11th,  1894,  at  10.30  o'clock. 
Public  Worship. — The  Minister  of  the  Church  conducting 
the  service,  assisted  by  the  Minister's  Assistant  and   by  Rev. 
Thomas  H.  Robinson,  D.  D.,  and  the  Rev.  John  DeWitt,  D.  D.,  ' 
LL.    D. ,    Professor    of    Church    History    in    Princeton    Theo- 
logical   Seminary,    preaching    the    Sermon.        Theme    of    the 
Sermon,  "  The  Beginnings  of  Presbyterianism  in  the  Mid- 
dle Colonies." 

Order  of  Service. 

Organ  Prelude — Iste  Confessor, Guilmant 

DoxoLOGY,  in  Long  Meter,     ....    [Congregation  standing] 

Invocation,  closing  with  the  Lord's  Prayer  [Congre-    . 

gation  standing], Rev.  David  M.  Skill ing 

Hymn,* No.  718,  vs.  1,  2,  3 

Scripture  Lesson,  ....    Isaiah  60  : 1-9;  Colossians  1 : 1-18 

Prayer, Rev.  George  B.  Stewart,  D.  D. 

Announcements. 

Anthem — Jubilate  Deo, Buck 

Offertory — Adagio  from  Sonata  in  C  Minor,    .    .    ,  Guilmant 

Hymn,! No.  575,  vs.  1,  2,  6 

Sermon, Rev.  John  DeWitt,  D.  D. ,  LL.  D. 

Prayer, Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  D.  D. 

Hymn, No.  730,  vs.  1,  2 

Benediction,       Rev.  Dr.  John  DeWitt 

Organ  Postlude — March  in  D, Smart 

*  In  place  of  the  hymn,  Miss  Rachel   T.   Briggs   sang   "The  Good 
Shepherd,"  by  Barrie. 
t  Omitted. 


Order  of  Services.  19 

SUNDAY  EVENING, 
Februai-y  11th,  1S94,  at  6.00  o'clock. 

Seventy-eighth    Anniversary     of    the    Sunday-School. 
Mr.  Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell,  Superintendent,  presiding. 

Order  of  Service. 

Organ  Prelude — March  in  F, Silas 

Anthem — I  was  Glad,      Choir  of  Senior  Department 

Invocation,* [Congregation  standing] 

Lord's  Prayer, [Chanted,  all  standing] 

Hymn, No.  30,  vs.  1,  3,  Winnowed  Songs 

Report  op  Primary  Department. 
Exercises  by  Primary  Department. 

Anthem — Lord,  Thy  Mercy  Streameth, 

Choir  of  Senior  Department 

Address, t  Rev.  John  DeWitt,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Report  of  Intermediate  Department. 

Exercises  by  Intermediate  Department. 

Hymn,  .    .      No.  48,  vs.  1,  3,  Winnowed  Songs,  [All  standing] 

Address, Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  D.  D. 

Report  of  Senior  Department. 

Scripture  Lesson,  .    .    .  [All  standing  and  read  resj^onsively] 

Sxqyt.  Ye  are  the  light  of  the  world.  A  city  that  is  set  on 
a  hill  cannot  be  hid. 

School.  Neither  do  men  light  a  candle,  and  put  it  under  a 
bushel,  but  on  a  candlestick;  it  giveth  light  unto  all  that  are 
in  the  house. 

Siq^t.  Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men  that  they  may  see 
your  good  works,  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 

*  Offered  by  Rev.  William  P.  Patterson. 

t  Rev.  Dr.  DeWitt  was  unable  to  be  present.  Mr.  Geo.  E.  Sterry, 
of  New  York  City,  gave  an  address. 


20  Centennial  Memorial. 

School.  Lay  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures  upon  earth, 
where  moth  and  rust  doth  corrupt,  and  where  thieves  break 
through  and  steal  : 

/Supt.  But  lay  up  for  yourselves  treasures  in  heaven  where 
neither  moth  nor  rust  doth  corrupt,  and  where  thieves  do  not 
break  through  nor  steal  : 

School.  For  where  your  treasure  is,  there  will  your  heart 
be  also. 

Supt.   Ask,  and  it  shall  be   given   you  ;  seek,  and  ye  shall" 
find  ;  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you  : 

School.   For  every  one  that  asketh  receiveth  ;  and  he  that 
seeketh  findeth  ;  and  to  him  that  knocketh  it  shall  be  opened. 
Anthem — Thee  will  We  Worship,    Choir  of  Senior  Department 
Report  of  Chinese  Department. 
Report  of  Calvary  Chapel  School. 
Summary  of  Reports. 
Anthem — Rest  for  the  Weary,    Choir  of  the  Senior  Department 

Address, The  Pastor 

Distribution    of    Prizes — For   unbroken    attendance   during 

the  year. 
Hymn,     .    .    ,  No.  104,  v.  1,  Winnowed  Songs     [All  standing] 

Benediction, Rev.  David  M.  Skilling 

Organ  Postlude — Chorus  in  D  Major, Guilmant 


MONDAY  EVENING, 

February  12th,  1S94,  at  7.30  o^docl\ 

Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  Rev.  George  S. 
Chambers,  D.  D.  ,  Minister  of  Pine  Street  Presbyterian 
Church,  presiding  ;  and  .Rev.  Albert  B.  Williamson,  Minister 
of  Paxtang  Presbyterian  Church,  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart, 
D.  D. ,  Minister  of  Market  Square  Presbyterian   Church,  Rev. 


Order  of  Services.  21 

David  M.  Skilling,  Ministei''s  Assistant  of  Market  Squai'e 
Presbyterian  Church,  Rev.  Reuben  H.  Armstrong,  Minister  of 
Elder  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  Rev.  George  S.  Duncan, 
Minister  of  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church,  and  Rev.  Wil- 
liam P.  Patterson,  Minister  of  Olivet  Presbyterian  Church, 
assisting. 

The  Elders*  of  Paxtang,  Market  Square,  Pine  Street,  Elder 
Street,  Covenant,  Westminster  and  Olivet  Churches  distribut- 
ing the  Emblems  as  foUoweth  : 

The  Bread:  Elders  Spencer  C.  Barber,  Jacob  A.  Miller, 
Gilbert  M.  McCauley,  John  C.  Harvey,  H.  Murray  Graydon, 
Francis  Jordan,  Cassius  M.  Brown,  William  J.  Adore,  Turner 
Cooper,  Sr.,  John  Curwen,  John  J.  Craig,  William  Jones,  J. 
Wallace  Elder,  William  S.  Shaffer,  Sr. ,  and  Abram  L.  Groff. 

The  Wme:  Matthew  B.  Elder,  Francis  W.  Rutherford, 
Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell,  J.  Henry  Spicer,  Jacob  F.  Seller, 
Daniel  W.  Cox,  Thomas  J.  Miller,  Walter  W.  Williams,  John 

*  All  the  elders  were  not  present.  Those  not  present  sent  reasons 
for  non-attendance.  Those  present  distributed  the  Emblems  accord- 
ing to  the  following  arrangement : 

Left  side  aisle  ;  The  Bread,  Daniel  W.  Cox,  Dr.  Jacob  A.  Miller: 
The  Wine,  J.  Henry  Spicer,  Thomas  J.  Miller. 

Left  center  aisle,  left  side  :  The  Bread  and  the  Wine,  Jacob  F. 
Seller,  Gilbert  M.  McCauley. 

Left  center  aisle,  right  side  :  The  Bread  and  the  Wine,  Francis 
Jordan,  Matthew  B.  Elder. 

Right  center  aisle,  left  side  :  The  Bread  and  the  Wine,  John  M. 
Stewart,  Abram  L.  Groff. 

Right  center  aisle,  right  side  ;  The  Bread,  William  S.  Shaffer,  J. 
Wallace  Elder  ;  The  AVine,  William  S.  Shaffer,  Samuel  H.  Garland, 

Right  side  aisle  :  The  Bread,  William  Jones,  John  J.  Craig  :  The 
Wine,  David  R.  Elder,  Alexander  Adams. 

Gallery  :  The  Bread  and  The  Wine,  John  C.  Harvey. 


22  Centennial  Memorial. 

M.  Stewart,  Samuel  H.  Garland,  John  E.  Patterson,  David  R. 

Elder,    John    E.     Daniel,    Jacob    K.     Walker    and    Alexander 

Adams. 

Order  of  Service. 

Organ  Prelude — Chorus  from  Passion  Music,      ....  Bach 

Anthem — Holy  Spirit,  Come,  O  Come,* Martin 

Invocation,      Rev.  Reuben  H.  Armstrong 

Hymn— No.  696,  vs.  1,  2,  6,    .    .    .  Rev.  Albert  B.  Williamson. 

Scripture  Lesson Rev.  David  M.  Skilling 

Address, Rev.  Geo.  S.  Chambers,  D.  D. 

Words  of  Institution,    .    .    .    ,  Rev.  Geo.  S.  Chambers,  D.  D. 

Prayer Rev.  William  P.  Patterson 

Distribution  of  the  Bread,     .  Rev.  Geo.  S.  Chambers,  D.  D. 
Distribution  of  the  Wine,      .    .  Rev.  Geo.  B.  Stewart,  D.  D. 

Prayer  or  Thanksgiving, Rev.  Geo.  S.  Duncan 

Hymn— No.  688,  vs.  1,  4,  5,  .    .  Rev.  Geo.  S.Chambers,  D.  D. 

Benediction, Rev.  Geo.  S.  Chambers,  D.  D. 

Organ  Postlude — Hymn  of  the  Apostles  from  the  Re- 
demption,       Gounod 


TUESDAY  EVENING, 
February  13th,  1S94,  at  7. SO  o'clock. 

Rev.  David  M.  Skilling,  Minister's  Assistant,  presiding. 
Musical   Festival.      Mr.    George   R.    Fleming,    Director. 
Mr.  David  E.  Crozier,  Organist. 

Programme. 

QRGANPRELUDE—Vorspiel  to  Parsifal, Wagner 

Anthem — Festival  Te  Deum, Buck 

Prayer.! 

*"  Lead,  Kindly  Light,"  was  substituted. 

tPrayer  by  Rev.  Harris  R.  Schenck,  Chambersburg,  Pa. 


Order  of  Services.  23 

Scripture  Lesson,* Psalm  cl. 

Solo, t  Miss  Rachel  T.  Briggs 

Organ  Interlude — Andante  in  F, Mozart 

Anthem — Lo  !  It  is  I, Faure- Shelly 

SoLOjt Miss  Reba  Bunton 

Hymn,  by  the  Congregation,  all  standing,  sung  as  in  ye 

olden  time, No.  45G,  vs.  1,  2,  4 

DuET,§ Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  Z.  Gross 

Organ  Interlude — Pastoral  from  Sonata  in  D  Minor, 

Reinberger 

Anthem — O  !  Clap  Your  Hands, Buck 

Address — The  Hymnology  of   the  Mother  Presbyterian 

Church  of  Harrisburg,  with  Some  Reminiscences  of 

Choirs  and  Choir  Days,       .    .    .  H.  Murray  Graydon,  Esq. 

Anthem — Qui  Tollis, Farmer 

SoLO,  II Miss  Helen  Espy 

Hymn,  Congregation   standing    and    singing  as  in   the 

days  of  the  fathers, No.  394,  vs.  1,  3,  4 

Benediction, \  Rev.  David  M.  Skilling 

Organ  Postlude — Marche  Pontifical, Lemmens 


WEDNESDAY  EVENING, 
February  14th,  1S94,  at  7.30  o'clock. 
Rev.  "William  A.  West,  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Presbytery   of 
Carlisle,  Welsh  Run,  Penna. ,  presiding. 

*Lesson  read  by  Rev.  James  Eraser,  Ph.  D.,  of  Sparrow's  Point,  Md. 
tMiss  Brig-gs  did  not  sing.     William  G.  Underwood  sang,  '"Glory 
to  Thee,  my  God,  this  Night." 
tMiss  Bunton  sang,  "  Eye  hath  not  Seen,"  from  Gaul's  "  Holy  City." 
§Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gross  sang,  "  Forever  with  the  Lord." 
IIMiss  Espy  sang,  "Jerusalem,"  by  Henry  M.  Parker. 
^Benediction  by  Rev.  Charles  Edward  Greig,  Paris,  France. 


24  Centennial  Memorial. 

The  Presbyterian  Churches  of  Harrisburg.     Addresses 
by  representatives  appointed  by  the  several  Sessions. 
Order  of  Service. 

Organ  Prelude — Marche  Religieuse,       Guilmant 

Anthem — Hark,  Hark,  My  Soul  !  * Buck 

Scripture  Lesson,! Philippians  2  : 1-11 

Prayer.  J 

Hymn, No.  232,  vs.  1,  3,  4 

Address — Paxtang  Church,  organized   about  1726,  ,    .    . 

Rev,  Albert  B.  Williamson 

Address — Market  Square    Church,    Organized    February 

16,  1794, I  Hon.  Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell 

Address — Pine  Street   Church,  Organized   May  22,  1858, 

Prof.    Jacob  F.   Seller,  Ph.  D. 

Hymn,  .    ,    .    .     • No.  92,  vs.  1,  3 

Address — Elder  Street  Church,    Organized   October  25, 

1858, Mr.  Cassius  M.  Brown 

Address — Covenant  Church,  Organized  September  9,  1866, 

Mr.  Samuel  H.  Garland 

Address — Westminster  Church,  Organized  June  19,  1873, 

Rev.  George  S.  Duncan 

Address — Olivet  Church,  Organized  October  15,  1889,    . 

Rev.  William  P.  Patterson 

Prayer. 

Hymn, No.  639,  vs.  1,  3 

Benediction,       Rev.  William  A.  West 

Organ  Postlude — Chorus  in  D  Minor, Guilmant 

*Martin's  "  Holy  Spirit,  Come,  O  Come  "  was  substituted. 
fRead  by  Rev.   Reuben  H.   Armstrong,   Pastor  of    Elder  Street 
Presbyterian  Church,  City. 

X  Prayer  offered  by  Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Beck,  City  Missionary. 
I  Mr.  McCarrell  detained  by  illness.     The  Pastor  took  his  place. 


Order  of  Services.  25 

THURSDAY  EVENING. 
February  15th,  1S94,  at  7.30  o'clock. 

Rev.  George  B.  Stewart,  D.  D.,  Minister,  presiding. 

Historical  Evening. — The  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  D.  D., 
Reunion  Professor  of  Sacred  Rhetoric,  Church  Government 
and  Pastoral  Theology  in  Western  Theological  Seminary, 
Allegheny,  Penn'a.  delivering  the  address. 

Order  of  Service. 

Organ  Prelude — Benedictus, Mackenzie 

Anthem — Hallelujah  Chorus, Handel 

The  Apostles'  Creed,  .    .  [In  unison,  congregation  standing] 

Invocation,*      [Congregation  standing] 

Hymn, No.  2,  vs.  1,  4,  5 

Scripture  Lesson,  t 

Hymn — No.  435,  vs.  1,  2,  3,  5,  .    .    .  [Congregation  standing] 

Historical  Address — A  Century  Plant,  .    .    . 

By  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  D.  D. 

Hymn — No.  953, [Congregation  standing] 

Lord's  Prayer, [In  unison,  congregation  standing] 

Benediction, By  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  D.  D. 

Organ  Postlude — Chorus  in  E  Flat, Guilmant 


FRIDAY  EVENING, 
February  16th,  1894,  at  7.30  o'clock. 

A  Reception  by  the  Congregation  to  their  Guests. 
Entrance  by  side  door.      Hon.  John  B.  McPherson,  Lebanon, 
Pa.,  presiding.     During  the  evening  there  will  be  an  informal 

*  By  Rev.  I.  Potter  Hayes,  Wrightsville,  Pa. 

t  Psalm  89  :  1-11  by  Rev.  John  L.  McKeehan,  Steelton,  Pa. 


26  Centennial  Memorial. 

musical  programme,*  and  brief  impi'omptu  addresses  by  some 
of  the  guests,  f 

*The  musical  programme  consisted  of  "  The  Angel  Came,"  F.  H. 
Cowen,  by  Miss  Reba  Bunton  ;  "  They  Shall  Hunger  no  More,"  from 
Gaul's  "The  Holy  City,"  Miss  Reba  Bunton  and  Mr.  Geo.  R.  Fleming ; 
"Come  Unto  Me,"  Coenen,  Mr.  Geo.  R.  Fleming.  These  were  sung 
in  the  auditorium.  In  the  lecture-room  were  given  two  numbers  by 
Messi's.  Henry  A.  Kelker,  Jr.,  J.  F.  Hutchinson,  H.  L.  Vance,  Charles 
F.  Etter,  Frank  S.  Morrow,  members  of  the  Harrisburg  Banjo  Club  ; 
a  piano  duet,  overture  to  "Rienzi,'  Wagner,  by  Mrs.  Frank  R.  Schell 
and  Mrs.  David  Fleming,  Jr.:  "The  Miller  of  the  Dee,"  "Ben  Bolt," 
"Annie  Laurie,"  "  Blue  Bells  of  Scotland,"  by  "The  Mendelssohn 
Quartette,"  composed  of  Mr.  Geo.  R.  Fleming,  Mr.  Edward  Z.  Gross, 
Mr.  William  G.  Underwood,  Mr.  Lucius  S.  Bigelow. 

t  Addresses  were  made  by  Rev.  Wm.  C.  Cattell,  D.  D.,  Philadel- 
phia;  Major  General  Geo.  R.  Snowden,  Philadelphia ;  Col.  J.  Ross 
Thompson,  Erie,  Pa.;  Rev.  Henry  E.  Niles,  D.  D.,  York,  Pa.;  Mr. 
Franklin  W.  Rutherford,  Paxtang. 


PROGRAMME  OF  ORGAN  RECITALS. 


Monday,    February  12th. 

Adagio  from  6th  Organ  Symphony, Wider 

Fantasia  in  A  Minor, Lemmens 

Andante  from  Fifth  Symphony, Beethoven 

Cantilene  Pastorale, Guilmant 

Gothic  March,       Salome 

Induant  Justiciam, Gicilmatit 

Tuesday,   February  13th. 

Sonata  in  E  Minor, Merkel 

Pictures  from  the  Orient,  Nos.  II.,  TIL,  VT.,  .    .    .  Sdmmann 

Andante  from  Symphony  in  C, Schubert 

Song  to  the  Evening  Star  from  Tannhauser,    ....   Wagyier 
Funeral  March  and  Song  of  the  Seraphs, Guilmant 

Wednesday,  February  Hth. 

Concerto  for  Organ,  No.  III. , Handel 

Adagio  from  Opus,  97, Beethoven 

Sonata  in  E  fiat, Buck 

Two  Hymn  Tunes  of  the  Olden  Time,      Anon 

Old  Hebrew  Prayer, Anon 

Judex,  from  Mors  et  Vita, Gounod 

Torchlight  March, Guilmant 

Thursday,  February  15th. 

Concerto,  No,  I.,      Handel 

Sonata,  No.  IV., Mendelssohn 

Andante  in  A  Minor, Merkel 

Rhapsody  in  D, Saint- Saens 


28  Centennial  Memorial. 

Tremmerei, Schwnann 

Prayer  from  Lohengrin, Wagner 

Funeral  March  and  Song  of  the  Seraphs  (by  request), 

Guihnant 

Friday.   February  16th. 

Allegretto  from  Symphony  Xo.  7, Beethoven 

Sonata  in  D  Minor, Guilmant 

Adagio,      Liszt 

Andante  Religioso, Liszt 

Pilgrim's  Chorus  from  Tannhauser, Wagner 

Ave  Maria, Arcadelt- Liszt 

Funeral  March  and  Song  of  the  Seraphs  (by  request),      .    .    . 
G^iibnant 


CENTENNIAL  WEEK. 


SUNDAY  moeni:n'g, 

February  the  11th,  1894.,  at  10.30  o'clock. 


Cowper,  speaking  of  the  "  soft  music  of  the  village  bells," 

says : 

"With  easy  force  it  opens  all  the  cells, 

Where  Memory  slept." 

This  was  the  experience  of  many  as  the  sweet,  deep  tones 
of  the  Market  Square  Church  bell  announced  that  the  hour 
had  arrived  for  commencing  the  Centennial  commemoration 
of  the  founding  of  this  church,  and  called  the  people  to  the 
house  of  prayer. 

The  cells  where  Memory  slept  were  unlocked,  and  the 
sleeping  occupant  was  called  to  his  task.  It  was  an  easy 
and  pleasant  task.  Three  generations  of  worshipers  have 
passed  along  these  streets  to  the  house  of  God.  The  forms 
of  many  are  recalled  with  loving  veneration,  the  names  of 
others  are  rehearsed  with  a  deep  appreciation  of  the  sterling 
worth  and  valiant  service  of  those  who  bore  them,  while  in 
the  shadows  of  Memory's  cell,  half-revealed,  half-hidden  are 
many,  many  more  who  are  only  known  now  by  what  they 
have  done.  Memory  is  busy.  Joyful,  tender,  solemn  feel- 
ings are  evoked  as  we  enter  the  sanctuary  and  recall  past 
experiences  and  departed  friends.  The  day  with  its  crisp 
air  and  "  blue  vault  without  a  cloud  "  ;  the  occasion  provok- 
ing historical  reminiscence ;  the  sanctuary  beautifully  deco- 
rated, and  now  filled  with  an  audience  crowding  into  every 


34  Centennial  Memorial. 

vacant  space ;  the  pulpit  tastefully  ornamented  with  century- 
plants  and  cut  flowers,  and  occupied  by  a  beloved  former 
Minister,  the  honored  son  of  another  former  Minister,  the 
present  Minister  and  his  Assistant;  all  conspire  to  make  the 
opening  service  of  Centennial  Week  impressive. 

The  hour  appointed  having  arrived,  the  service  was  begun 
with  the  organ  prelude,  Guilmant's  "  Iste  Confessor,"  a  set  of 
elaborate  variations  on  the  old  Latin  hymn  of  that  name. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  prelude  the  congregation  arose  and 
united  in  singing  the  Doxology  in  long  meter : 

Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow  ; 
Praise  him  all  creatures  here  below ; 
Praise  him  above,  ye  heavenly  host ; 
Praise  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 

While  the  congregation  remained  standing.  Rev.  David 
M.  Skilling,  Minister's  Assistant,  offered  the  Invocation,  the 
congregation  uniting  in  the  Lord's  Prayer  at  its  close.  Miss 
Rachel  T.  Briggs  sang  with  great  acceptance  Barrie's  "  The 
Good  Shepherd."  The  Minister  read  for  the  Scripture 
lesson  from  the  Old  Testament,  Isaiah  Ix.  1-9,  and  from 
the  New  Testament,  Colossians  i.  1-18,  and  offered  prayer. 

He  then  gave  an  account  of  the  preparations  for  the  Cen- 
tennial observances,  and  called  particular  attention  to  some 
of  the  special  features  of  the  week  upon  which  the  church 
was  entering.  He  closed  his  statement  in  the  following 
words: 

"  Those  who  founded  this  church  and  those  who  have  suc- 
ceeded them  in  its  membership  wrought  faithfully,  fearing 
God  and  serving  man  in  all  earnestness  and  sincerity.     It 


Sunday  Morning.  35 

is  meet  that  we  celebrate  their  deeds  and  treasure  the  mem- 
ory of  their  virtue.  The  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  our 
God  and  Saviour,  has  been  pleased  for  a  hundred  3'ears  to 
show  favor  unto  this  portion  of  his  glorious  church.  It  is 
fitting  that  we  bear  testimony  to  his  abounding  goodness 
and  superabounding  grace  toward  our  beloved  Zion.  This 
is  our  double  purpose  in  these  Centennial  services :  to 
recount  the  deeds  of  our  fathers,  and  to  exalt  the  name  of 
our  God. 

It  is  our  prayer  that  these  days  may  be  the  dawn  of  a  new 
era  of  activity,  purity,  and  consecration  on  the  part  of  us 
who  have  fallen  heir  to  such  a  goodly  heritage ;  and  of  con- 
tinued and  increasing  favor  from  the  God  of  our  fathers,  our 
God,  and  the  God  of  our  children  to  all  generations." 

Dudley  Buck's  bright,  vigorous  "  Jubilate  Deo  "  was  ren- 
dered with  spirit  by  the  large  Centennial  Choir.  While  an 
offering  for  the  Synodical  Sustentation  Fund  was  being 
gathered,  Guilmant's  Adagio  from  Sonata  in  C  Minor,  a 
slow,  graceful  movement,  was  rendered  on  the  grand  organ. 
The  Minister  introduced  the  speaker  of  the  occasion  in  the 
following  words : 

"The  Rev.  Dr.  DeWitt,  who  will  now  address  us  on  'The 
Beginnings  of  Presbyterianism  in  the  Middle  Colonies,' 
needs  no  introduction  to  this  congregation.  Born  and 
reared  in  this  cit}'^  and  church,  he  is  personally  known  to 
many  of  you.  Consecrated  to  the  Gospel  ministry,  he  has 
become  the  worthy  and  honored  son  of  his  revered  father. 
First  as  a  pastor,  in  Irvington  on  the  Hudson,  Boston  and 
Philadelphia,  then  as  a  professor  in  Lane  Theological  Sem- 
inary,   McCormick    Theological    Seminary,    and    now    in 


36  Centennial  Memorial. 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  the  Church  has  honored 
herself  in  recognizing  his  ability  and  in  honoring  him.  We 
are  proud  to  claim  him  as  one  of  us,  and  most  happy  to 
have  him  now  stand  in  the  pulpit  his  father  so  long  occu- 
pied, and  inaugurate  these  Centennial  services." 


BEGINNINGS   OF   PRESBYTERIANISM  IN  THE 
MIDDLE  COLONIES. 


By  Rev.  JOHN  DeWitt,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 


I  need  not  assure  you  of  the  great  pleasure  with  which  I 
received  your  invitation  to  take  part  in  the  services  by 
which  you  had  decided  to  celebrate  the  hundred  years  of 
our  church's  life.  I  say  our  church;  because,  after  all,  this 
church  must  always  be  mine  in  a  sense  in  which  no  other 
church  can  be.  I  was  born  one  of  its  members;  and  when 
my  membership  in  the  Cnurch  of  God  was  recognized  in  the 
sacrament  of  baptism,  it  was  among  the  children  of  this 
church  that  my  name  was  enrolled.  It  was  in  the  cata- 
chetical  class  and  in  the  Sunday-schools  of  this  church  that 
I  was  instructed  in  the  principles  of  our  religion;  and  when 
I  was  led  to  confirm  by  my  own  act  the  vows  of  baptism,  it 
was  here  that  I  united  with  some  of  you  in  partaking  for 
the  first  time  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  From  this  church  I 
went  to  the  Theological  Seminary;  and  I  must  always 
remember,  with  great  distinctness,  that  it  was  in  the  lecture- 
room  of  this  church,  while  my  father  and  Dr.  Robinson 
were  sitting  in  the  pulpit,  that  I  preached  my  first  sermon 
to  a  company  of  friends,  of  whom  some  are  before  me  at 
this  time. 

And  Harrisburg  can  never  be  anything  to  me  but  home; 
my  own  city,  the  city  of  my  people.  A  month  or  two  ago  I 
had  occasion  to  spend  two  days  here,  and  brought  with  me 


38  Centennial  Memorial. 

one  of  my  nephews.  Both  of  us  were  deeply  interested  in 
visiting  the  resting  places  of  five  generations  of  our  ances- 
tors; and  it  was  with  no  ordinary  feelings  that,  in  reading 
the  epitaphs  of  those  from  whom  we  were  descended,  we 
found  among  them  the  names*  of  the  first  white  settler  of 
the  place,  of  the  founder  of  the  city,  of  the  first  Senator 
from  the  Commonwealth,  of  the  first  president  of  the  town's 
eldest  bank,  and  of  one  who  for  a  half  century  was  pastor 
of  the  city's  eldest  Christian  congregation. 

One  who  was  born  and  reared  in  this  place  must  always 
think  of  the  beauty  of  its  situation  with  enthusiasm.  It  is 
my  good  fortune  always  to  have  lived  in  the  presence  of 
some  strikingly  beautiful  natural  object.  My  firsD  parish 
was  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  just  at  the  southern 
edge  of  the  broad  Tappan-zee.  Northward  my  vision  was 
bounded  by  the  bold  outlines  of  the  lower  Highlands,  while 
looking  down  the  river,  I  could 

See  sunrise  rest  or  sunset  fade 
Along  the  frowning  palisade. 

From  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  I  went  to  Boston  and  the 
banks  of  the  Charles  where  it  broadens  into  the  Back-bay. 
Around  me  were  the  hills  and  uplands  made  memorable 
by  a  great  history,  and  made  to  sing  with  beauty  by  the 
energy  and  intelligence  of  a  great  people;  while  a  short 
walk  brought  me  to  the  noble  harbor  and  bay,  "where," 
as  Emerson  has  said. 

Twice  a  day  the  loving  sea 
Takes  Boston  in  his  arms. 

*  John  Harris,  the  first ;  John  Harris,  the  second  ;  William  Maclay 
William  Wallace  ;  William  Radclifle  DeWitt. 


Sermon  of  Rev.  John  De  Witt.  39 

From  Boston  I  went  to  Philadelphia ;  to  the  loveliness  of 
Fairmount  and  the  Wissahickon,  and  the  broad  and  shining 
glory  of  the  stately  Delaware.  From  Philadelphia  I  was 
called  to  Lane  Theological  Seminary,  and  lived  on  Walnut 
Hills.  The  banks  of  the  Ohio  are  beautiful  from  Pittsburg 
to  the  Mississippi;  but  at  no  point  are  the  hills  clothed 
with  a  more  glorious  green  or  with  statelier  trees,  than  at 
Cincinnati.  From  the  valley  of  the  Ohio  I  moved  to  the 
great  City  of  the  Lake;  and  I  am  sure  that  all  of  you  who 
last  summer  saw  the  living  waters  of  Lake  Michigan  must 
have  been  profoundly  impressed  with  the  magnificence  of 
that  great  inland  sea.  And  now  at  Princeton — whether 
looking  eastward  over  the  great  plain  lands  toward  the 
ocean,  or  westward  to  the  first  foothills  of  the  mountains, 
or  about  me  on  the  stately  trees  which  have  helped  to  give 
fame  to  our  University  town — I  rejoice  that  my  lot  has 
again  been  cast  in  a  place  "  suffused  and  saturated  with  the 
element  of  beauty." 

But  the  beauty  of  Harrisburg  has  a  charm  for  me  which 
that  of  no  other  place  possesses.  And  sometimes,  when  I 
begin  to  fear  that  the  charm  resides,  not  in  the  scene  but 
in  my  relation  to  it,  I  dissipate  the  fear  by  reading  what 
another  Harrisburger,  the  late  Dr.  Benjamin  Wallace,  has 
written  of  it;  and  I  will  please  myself  by  reading  it  to  you. 
"  It  there  be  a  more  beautiful  spot  on  earth,"  writes  Dr 
Wallace  in  his  paper  on  the  Insurrection  of  the  Paxton  Boys, 
"  if  there  be  a  more  beautiful  spot  on  earth  than  that  where 
the  men  of  Paxton  settled,  we  have  never  seen  it.  From 
its  source  in  Otsego  Lake,  along  by  its  lovely  windings  where 
the  Chemung  intersects  the  North  Branch,  by  the  Valley  of 


40  Centennial  Memorial. 

the  Wyoming  which  lives  forever  in  the  imagination  of 
Campbell,  but  which  is  fairer  even  than  the  semi-tropical 
fancy  of  which  he  was  enamored ;  on  by  the  bold  scenery 
of  the  meeting  of  its  w^aters  at  Northumberland,  to  its  broad 
glory  and  its  magnificent  union  with  the  Chesapeake,  every 
mile  of  the  Susquehanna  is  beautiful.  Other  rivers  have 
their  points  of  loveliness  or  of  grandeur ;  the  Susquehanna 
has  every  form  of  beauty  and  sublimity  that  belongs  to 
rivers.  Everywhere  its  course  is  deflected.  It  begins  a  ■ 
wooded  lake  ;  it  winds  a  limpid  brook  by  meadows  and  over 
silver  pebbles;  it  makes  its  way  through  mountains;  it 
loiters  restingly  by  their  base ;  it  sweeps  in  broad  courses 
by  the  valleys.  Its  vast  width  in  its  mad  Spring  freshets, 
when,  swollen  by  the  melted  snows,  it  rushes  from  the  hills 
with  irrestible  force,  leaves  with  its  fall  island  after  island  in 
its  mid  channel  of  the  richest  green  and  the  most  surpass- 
ing beauty  ;  while  those  passages  through  the  mountains 
afford  points  of  scenery,  which  it  is  no  exaggeration  to  call 
sublime.  The  Susquehanna  makes  the  grandest  of  these 
passages  just  below  the  mouth  of  the  Juniata.  Its  course 
there  is  several  miles  long,  before  it  entirely  disengages  itself 
from  the  rapids  called  Hunter's  Falls,  which  are  the  remains 
of  the  rocky  barrier  that  once  resisted  its  way.  Entirely  at 
liberty,  it  pours  its  stream,  a  mile  wide,  along  a  channel 
some  fifty  feet  beneath  its  eastern  bank.  About  seven  miles 
below  the  mountains,  at  a  point  where  they  look  blue  in  the 
distance,  flows  in  a  little  stream,  which  the  Indians  called 
called  Pextang,  Paixtang,  or  Paxton.  This  mountain  range 
is  the  northern  boundary  of  the  great  valley,  which,  under- 
laid with  blue  limestone,  covered  originally  with  the  richest 


Sermon  of  Rev.  John  De  Wiit.  4] 

and  noblest  forest  growth,  and  including  within  it  the 
garden  of  the  Atlantic  slope  extends  from  Newburg  on  the 
Hudson,  by  Easton  on  the  Delaware,  b}^  Reading  on  the 
Schuylkill,  by  Harrisburg  on  the  Susquehanna,  by  Carlisle 
and  Chambersburg,  and  Hagerstown  and  Winchester,  until 
it  loses  itself  in  the  North  Carolina  hills.  The  point  of  great- 
est beauty  in  all  that  valley  is  the  spot  where  it  is  cloven  by 
the  Susquehanna."  *  So  a  son  of  Harrisburg  and  of  this 
church  wrote  more  than  a  third  of  a  century  ago,  of  the 
beauty  of  the  place  of  which  every  foot  of  ground  was  pre- 
cious dust  to  him.  And  so  doubtless  all  her  scattered  sons 
and  daughters  feel,  as  they  think  of  the  mountains,  and  the 
valley,  and  the  trees,  and  the  gorgeous  sunsets,  and  the 
shining  river,  that  glorified  their  childhood. 

I  dare  not  trust  myself  to  speak  of  the  tender  personal 
associations  and  the  sacred  memories  which  make  a  return 
to  Harrisburg  almost  a  holy  pilgrimage.  For,  though  I  am 
tempted  to  be  very  free  and  personal  to-day,  I  must  pause 
before  I  stir  up  the  deepest  fountains  of  feeling  in  you  and 
in  myself.  But  I  cannot  forbear  to  say^  that  every  Harris- 
burger,  who  is  also  a  son  of  this  church,  must  feel  himself 
made  better  by  returning  to  the  place  in  which  that  man  of 
God  and  friend  of  man,  James  Wallace  Weir,  so  long  did 
justice  and  loved  mercy  and  walked  humbly  with  his  God. 

Among  the  many  traits  of  Harrisburg  that  endear  it  to  a 
native,  who  has  been  called  to  live  away  from  it,  is  its 
charming  social  life.  This  social  life  derives  no  small  part 
of  its  charm  from  the  fact  that  Harrisburg,  with  its  sur- 
rounding country,  was  settled  not  by  one  class  of  people, 

*Presbyterian  Quarterly  Review,  April,  1860. 


42  Centennial  Memorial. 

but  by  two  classes.  We  are  beginning  to-day  the  celebration 
of  the  establishment  a  century  ago  of  a  church  called  the 
English  Presbyterian  Congregation.  But  we  must  not  forget 
that,  during  the  most  of  its  life  there  has  existed  by  its 
side  in  Christian  amity  a  German  Presbyterian  Congrega- 
tion. While  here  the  spiritual  descendants  of  John  Knox 
have  been  fed  on  the  catechism  of  Westminster,  there  the 
spiritual  descendants  of  Ulrich  Zwingli  have  been  fed  on 
the  catechism  of  Heidelberg.  The  union  of  these  two 
peoples  has  made  a  broader  and  kindlier,  a  far  more 
genial  social  life  than  either  would  have  made.  Since  the 
Scotch  or  Scotch-Irish  has  always  been  the  dominant  ele- 
ment in  this  congregation,  and  since  in  the  course  of  this 
address  I  shall  have  a  good  deal  to  sa}'  about  it,  it  will  not 
be  out  of  place  now  to  remind  ourselves  how  much  we  all 
owe  to  the  other,  the  distinctively  Teutonic  element,  with  its 
less  polemic  and  more  genial,  though  perhaps  more  lax 
modes  of  religious  thinking ;  with  its  home-loving,  earth- 
hungering  sentiment;  with  its  gemuthlichkeit,  which,  though 
the  word  is  perhaps  untranslatable  into  English,  our 
German  brethren  have  imparted  to  the  social  life  of  this 
whole  district.  This  union  is  seen  in  the  union  of  family 
names.  It  is  not  long  since  you  were  accustomed  to  meet 
on  the  streets  of  your  city  one  of  the  eldest  members 
of  the  Harrisburg  bar,  whose  geniality  and  courtesy  were 
always  a  benediction ;  who,  in  his  Christian  name,  pre- 
served the  memory  of  his  Scotch,  and  in  his  surname  pre- 
served the  memory  of  his  Netherland  ancestors ;  I  refer  to  the 
late  Mr.  Hamilton  Alricks.  But  the  union  of  the  Scotch 
Hamilton  and  the  Teutonic  Alricks,  is  only  an  instance  of 


Sermon  of  Rev.  John  DeWitt.  43 

what  is  typical  and  common  in  Harrisburg  families  and 
Harrisbnrg  names.  So  are  united  the  German  Wiestling 
and  the  Scotch  Weir ;  so  Egle  and  Beatty ;  so  Kerr  and 
Orth  ;  so  Orth  and  Reily ;  so  Kunkel  and  Rutherford ;  so 
Buehler  and  McCormick ;  so  Ross  and  Haldeman ;  so 
Haldeman  and  Cameron;  so  Gross  and  Criswell;  so  Spangler 
and  Hamilton;  so  Bucher  and  Ayres;  so  Fahnestock  and 
McKinley;  and  so,  to  refer  to  the  pulpit  of  this  church, 
the  Scotch  Robinson  and  the  German  Buehler.  When  I 
think  of  the  great  social  and  religious  value,  to  Harrisburg 
of  this  union  of  the  Scotch  and  Teutonic  elements  of  its 
early  population,  I  encourage  the  hope  that  it  will  be  con- 
tinued in  the  future.  And  the  social  news  of  the  city  that 
comes  to  me  from  time  to  time  leads  me  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  hope  is  quite  certain  of  fulfillment. 

I  have  thus  told  you  many  reasons — and  I  could  tell  you 
as  many  more — why  my  affection  for  Harrisburg  has  not 
abated  with  absence  and  the  lapse  of  time,  and  why  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  return  to  the  city,  especially  to  take  some  part  in 
such  a  celebration  as  you  begin  to-day:  the  celebration  of 
the  establishment  a  hundred  years  ago  of  this  venerated 
church;  the  church  of  my  family,  the  church  my  father  and 
of  my  forefathers,  the  church  that  sprang  from  Paxtang,  the 
church  of  my  elder  ancestry.  And  since  we  are  looking 
backward  to-day,  it  has  occurred  to  me  that  it  would  be  well 
if  we  were  to  begin  at  a  point  even  earlier  than  a  century 
ago,  and  call  up  before  our  minds  a  picture  of  the  begin- 
nings of  Presbyterianism  in  this  part  of  the  United  States. 
Of  course,  I  must  be  very  brief  and  fragmentary  in  my 
treatment    of  a   large    historical    subject ;    but   brief    and 


44  Centennial  Memorial. 

incomplete  as  I  shall  be,  what  I  shall  say  may  prove  a 
not  inappropriate  introduction  to  the  celebration  of  the 
week  which  this  day  begins. 

The  name  of  the  church  gives  us  a  convenient  order  for 
the  treatment  of  the  subject  I  have  to  present:  the  English 
Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Harrisburg.  It  is  a  Presby- 
terian congregation  ;  a  congregation  of  that  peculiar  type  of 
Presbyterianism  known  as  English  speaking,  and  the  place 
in  which  it  has  stood  for  a  hundred  years  brings  before  us 
the  fact  that  it  belongs  to  the  second  generation  of  those 
English  speaking  Presbyterian  churches  that  were  planted 
in  the   Middle  Colonies. 

When,  on  All  Saints'  day,  in  fifteen  hundred  and  seven- 
teen, Martin  Luther  nailed  on  the  door  of  his  church  in 
Wittenberg  the  theses  on  grace  and  indulgences  which  he 
was  prepared  to  defend  against  the  world,  a  step  was  taken 
which  divided  Western  Christianity  against  itself.  In  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  new  movement,  it  seemed  as  if  the 
churches  of  the  Reformation  must  be  as  closely  united, 
externally,  as  the  Latin  church  of  the  Middle  Ages  had 
been.  But  events  soon  showed  that  the  organizing,  or 
Roman  spirit,  which  had  determined  the  external  life  of 
European  Christianity  since  the  pontificate  of  Gregory  the 
Great,  had  given  place  to  the  Protestant,  the  critical  and 
divisive  spirit,  which  has  marked  the  career  of  the  modern 
church.  This  is  not  the  time  to  discuss  the  question  whether 
Christianit}''  has  gained  most  or  lost  most  by  the  domination, 
during  the  last  three  centuries  and  a  half,  of  the  spirit  of 
protest,  of  criticism  and  of  dissent;  whether  or  not  the 
attainment  of  clearer  views  of  truth,  and  of  the  internal 


Sermon  of  Rev.  John  DeWitt.  45 

unity,  of  which  we  Protestants  make  so  much,  is  an  ade- 
quate compensation  for  the  loss  of  that  one  fold  with  one 
shepherd,  to  which  the  Protestant  world  is  so  often  invited 
to  return.  I  believe  that  the  compensation  is  more  than 
adequate.  But,  to-day,  I  note  simply  the  great  historical 
fact  that,  with  the  first  blow  of  Luther's  hammer  began  the 
history  of  national  churches  and  of  modern  denominational 
Christianity.  This  tendency  to  divide,  supported  by  the 
relations  of  the  Protestant  churches  to  the  civil  govern- 
ments, revealed  itself  first  in  the  memorable  controversy 
between  Luther  and  Zwingli,  touching  the  presence  of  the 
body  of  Christ  in  the  Sacrament  of  the  Supper.  That 
controversy  resulted  in  setting  over  against  each  other  the 
Lutheran  and  the  Reformed,  as  the  two  great  families  of 
National  Protestant  Churches.  The  resources  of  diplomacy 
and  of  theological  analysis  were  exhausted  in  the  fruitless 
endeavor  to  unite  them.  Since  the  Conference  of  Marburg, 
each  of  the  two  great  types  of  Protestantism  has  developed 
along  lines  distinct  from  those  of  the  other's  history. 

In  dividing  Protestant  Europe  between  them,  Lutheran- 
ism,  broadly  speaking,  took  Northern  Germany  and  the 
Scandanavian  countries.  Its  territories  were  contiguous, 
and  it  possessed,  during  the  fight  of  Protestantism  for  life 
and  for  recognition  on  the  map  aad  in  the  politics  of 
Europe,  all  the  advantage  that  belongs  to  a  compacted 
empire  and  to  racial  unity.  The  Reformed  type  of  Protest- 
antism, the  more  radical  and  thorough-going  type,  pushed 
itself  into  those  countries  wdiich  lay  nearest  to  Rome,  or 
which  had  felt  most  keenly  the  evils  of  the  Papacy. 
Reformed  Protestantism  was  the  more  widely  spread,  and 


46  Centennial  Memorial. 

the  less  racially  united.  It  appeared  in  South  Germany, 
in  German  Switzerland  and  French  Switzerland,  in  France, 
in  Spain,  in  Italy  and  in  Scotland.  But  for  the  fact  that, 
for  reasons  personal  to  himself,  the  monarch  of  England 
took  the  lead  in,  and  so  largely  limited  the  progress  of  the 
Reformation  in  England,  it  would  have  taken  possession  of 
South  as  it  did  of  North  Britain,  and  the  modern  religious 
history  of  the  island  would  have  been  the  history  of  a 
single  national  church. 

The  Reformed  Churches  were  not  so  closely  related  to  the 
State  as  were  the  Lutheran ;  and  for  tiiis  reason,  as  for  others 
which  I  need  not  stop  to  mention,  they  required  for  their 
healthful  development  a  form  of  government,  both  strong 
enough  for  the  church's  struggle  with  an  adverse  environ- 
ment and  representative  enough  of  the  faithful  who  i3om- 
posed  it.  For  such  a  government,  our  spiritual  fathers 
repaired  to  the  Scriptures  which  they  had  accepted  as  their 
rule  of  faith  ;  and  they  were  convinced  that  they  found  its 
elements  in  the  organization  of  the  churches  founded  by 
the  Apostles.  But  there  was  needed  a  genius,  who  could 
seize  these  elements  and,  employing  them  to  form  an  actual 
church,  could  show  to  the  Reformed  Churches  of  Europe 
a  living  example  of  the  revived  Apostolic  church  organi- 
zation. Such  a  genius  appeared  in  John  Calvin,  first 
among  the  exegetes,  first  among  the  theologians  and  one  of 
the  first  statesmen  of  his  age.  It  is  among  the  wonders 
of  the  world  that  he  organized,  seemingly  without  diflficulty 
or  hesitation,  both  the  theology  and  the  polity  which  have 
distinguished  the  great  family  of  Reformed  Churches.  The 
church  of  Christ  in  Geneva  became  the  model  of  the  Pres- 


Sermon  of  Rev.  John  DeWitt.  47 

byterian  Churches  of  the  world.  The  characteristic  traits  of 
this  church  order  are  familiar  to  us  all;  its  exaltation  of  the 
truth  and  of  the  preacher,  its  provision  for  the  representa- 
tion of  the  people,  its  insistence  on  the  church's  autonomy, 
on  the  efficiency  of  its  discipline,  and  on  the  subjection  of 
a  part  to  the  whole.  But  we  are  not  all  so  familiar  with 
the  fact  that  those  who  have  given  to  the  subject  severe 
study,  as  historians  and  publicists,  find  it  hard  to  resist 
the  conclusion,  to  which  our  own  historian  Mr.  Bancroft 
gives  expression,  when  he  assigns  to  Calvin's  theology  and 
polity  a  high  if  not  the  highest  place  among  the  causes  of 
our  system  of  general  education  and  of  our  enjoyment  of 
civil  liberty  and  self-government. 

The  Reformed  theology  and  the  Presbyterian  order 
were  eagerl}'-  accepted  by  the  }>eople  of  Scotland.  They 
were  made  the  national  religion  and  church  order  against 
the  enmity  of  the  crown,  and  the}'  were  maintained 
against  a  succession  of  hostile  monarchs.  Of  these  no 
one  was  more  persistently  hostile  than  James  the  Sixth, 
afterward  James  the  First  of  England.  He  tried  the 
strength  and  temper  of  the  Scottish  character,  and  found 
that  he  could  not  bend  it  to  his  will.  When,  therefore,  the 
Ulster  plantations  needed  settlers,  he  invited  the  Scotch  to 
furnish  them ;  and  the  Scotch,  accepting  his  invitation  and 
becoming  the  Scotch-Irish,  began  at  once  to  justify  the  boast 
of  their  King,  that  here  at  least  was  a  people,  unlike  the 
English  of  the  Pale,  too  vigorous  to  be  absorbed  or  modified 
by  the  Irish  Celts.  There  in  Ireland  our  Scotch  forefathers 
lived  for  a  hundred  years  before  the  great  emigrations  to 
America  began.     The  training  of  their  Irish  life  was  severe 


48  Centennial  Memorial. 

indeed.  It  robbed  the  Scotchmen  of  some  of  their  most 
engaging  traits ;  notably  that  gift  for  poetry  which  makes 
the  Scotch  ballad  the  most  pathetic  of  popular  songs.  This 
gift  seems  to  have  died  out  during  their  stay  in  Ireland. 
But  if  the  exile  robbed  the  Scotch  of  this  great  gift,  "  their 
training  in  Ireland,"  as  Mr.  Bancroft  has  said,  "kept  the 
spirit  of  liberty  and  the  readiness  to  resist  unjust  govern- 
ment as  fresh  in  their  hearts  as  though  they  had  just  been 
listening  to  the  preachings  of  Knox  or  musing  over  the 
political  creed  of  the  Westminster  Assembly"* 

It  is  a  sad  stor}'-,  that  of  the  persecutions  and  oppressions 
which  at  last  drove  them  from  their  new  home  in  Ulster, 
and  across  the  sea.  We  can  understand  the  persecutions 
in  the  days  of  the  Stuarts,  of  Charles  the  First  and  Charles 
the  Second  and  James  the  Second.  But  the  oppressions  of 
the  reigns  of  Anne  and  the  earlier  Georges,  after  all  that 
Ulster  had  done  to  make  their  reigns  a  possibility;  after 
Derry  and  Enniskillen  and  the  Battle  of  the  Boyne ;  these 
are  hard  to  understand.  Certainly,  if  ever  a  people  pur- 
chased by  patriotic  self-sacrifice  the  right,  I  will  not  say  to 
religious  toleration,  but  to  absolute  religious  liberty,  our 
Presbyterian  fathers  of  Ulster  purchased  it  during  the  cam- 
paign of  William  of  Orange  against  the  followers  and  allies 
of  the  rejected  James.  Yet  it  was  precisely  in  these  latter 
reigns  that  the  oppressions  became  intolerable  and  the  great 
migrations  to  America  took  place.  I  shall  not  tell  at  length 
the  outrageous  story,  but  my  subject  requires  me  at  least  to 
say  something.     How  can  I  speak  adequately  of  the  begin- 

*Hist.  of  the  U.  S.,  Vol.  iii.,  p.  29. 


Sermon  of  Rev.  John  DeWitt.  49 

nings  of  Presbyterianism  in  the  Middle  Colonies,  unless  I  tell 
in  brief  what  were  the  facts  that  compelled  the  Briggses  and 
Brysons  of  Silver's  Spring,  that  compelled  the  Flemings  and 
Simontons  and  McCormicks  and  Wallaces  of  Hanover,  the 
Rutherfords  and  Elders  and  Gilmors  and  Cowdens  of 
Paxtang,  theKerrs  and  Wilsons  and  Boyds  and  McNairs  of 
Derry,  to  leave  their  Irish  homes  and  clear  the  forests  at 
distant  out-posts  of  civilization  in  the  province  of  Pennsyl- 
vania ? 

William  the  Third  highly  valued  his  Scotch-Irish  sub- 
jects, and  during  his  reign  they  enjoyed  a  liberty  of  religion 
to  which  they  had  not  been  accustomed.  The  act  of 
toleration  was  faithfully  executed  and  the  policy  of  toler- 
ation was  not  changed.  But  after  the  accession  of  Anne,  the 
execution  of  the  act  became  tardy  and  unequal,  and  meas- 
ures were  taken  by  the  High  Church  party  for  its  amend- 
ment. Such  an  amendment  was  secured  in  the  sacramental 
"  Test  act,"  by  which  conscientious  Presbyterians  were  effec- 
tively driven  or  excluded  from  all  public  2">ositions  of  honor 
or  trust.  And  there  were  other  methods  of  persecution. 
"  No  sooner,"  writes  Dr.  Blackwood,  "  had  Anne  ascended 
the  throne  than  the  same  intolerant  High  Church  party  that 
had  formerly  oppressed  them  began  to  renew  their  assaults. 
At  one  time  the  annoyances  of  the  Presbyterians  of  Ulster 
arose  from  embarrassments  about  marriages.  At  another 
time  they  were  assailed  because  their  ministers  obeyed  their 
Presbyteries  by  preaching  in  vacant  churches  ;  while  the 
most  absurd  charges  of  disloyalty  were  urged  against  them 
in  pamphlets  and  often  made  the  subject  of  legal  investiga- 


50  Centennial  Memorial. 

tion  by  magistrates."  *  At  last  in  1714,  an  act  was  passed 
to  prevent  the  growth  of  schism,  in.  which  under  penalty  of 
three  months  imprisonment  and  disqualification  as  a  teacher, 
every  teacher  of  children  was  forbidden  "  to  be  willingly 
present  at  any  conventicle  of  dissenters  for  religious  wor- 
ship." The  fifth  year  of  the  reign  of  the  First  George  is 
marked  by  the  passage  of  an  act  which  gave  back  legal 
toleration  to  the  Presbyterians  in  Ireland.  But  the  relief 
came  too  late;  and  the  effect  was  only  to  substitute  the 
oppression  of  the  wealthy  land  owner  for  the  oppression 
of  the  Church,  the  Parliament  and  the  Crown, 

To  escape  this  prosecution  the  Ulster  Presbyterians  sailed 
in  large  numbers  for  America.  "  In  Ireland,"  says  Mr.  Ban- 
croft, "  the  disfranchised  Scotch  Presbyterians  who  still  drew 
their  ideas  of  Christian  government  from  the  Westminister 
Confession  began  to  believe  that  they  were  under  no  obli- 
gation to  render  obedience  to  Britain,  and  had  all  Ireland 
resembled  them,  it  could  not  have  been  held  in  subjection. 
But  what  could  be  done  by  unorganized  men  constituting 
only  about  a  tenth  of  the  population,  in  the  land  in  which 
they  were  but  sojourners?  They  were  willing  to  quit  a  soil 
which  was  endeared  to  them  by  no  traditions  ;  and  the 
American  colonies  opened  their  arms  to  receive  them.  They 
began  to  change  their  abode  as  soon  as  they  felt  oppression, 
and  ever}^  successive  period  of  discontent  swelled  the  tide  of 
emigrants."  f  We  are  told  by  another  authorit}'-,  that  "  year 
after  year,  from  the  second  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 

*Introduction  to  Webster's  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
United  States. 
tHistory  of  the  United  States.  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  28,  29. 


Sermon  of  Bev.  John  DeWitt.  51 

tury,  it  is  estimated  that  12,000  people  annually  sailed  for 
America  from  the  north  of  Ireland.  Such  was  the  drain 
indeed  that  it  was  computed  that  in  1773,  and  the  five 
preceding  years,  the  north  of  Ireland  lost  by  emigration  to 
America,  one-fourth  of  the  trading  cash  and  a  like  propor- 
tion of  the  manufacturing  people."  * 

Thus  in  the  eighteenth  century  there  flowed  wave  after 
wave  of  Presbyterian  immigrants  into  America.  They 
poured  themselves  over  the  whole  Atlantic  country  south 
of  New  England  and  New  York.  There  were  two  or  three 
small  colonies  in  New  England;  but  New  Jersey,  and  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Mar3dand,  and  Virginia,  and  the  Carolinas 
received  by  far  the  largest  share.  They  brought  with  them 
vivid  and  bitter  recollections  of  the  injustice  of  their  treat- 
ment at  the  hands  of  Great  Britain ;  and  therefore  when 
the  War  of  Independence  was  begun,  they  were  unani- 
mously for  the  cause  of  the  Colonies  and  against  the  mother 
country.  We  should  never  forget,  or  forget  to  acknowledge 
the  great  debt  we  all  owe  to  the  New  England  Colonies  for 
the  part  they  bore  in  the  Kevolutionary  war.  But  New 
England  would  have  been  powerless  without  the  Scotch 
Irish  people,  scattered,  as  the  latter  were,  throughout  the 
middle  and  the  southern  colonies,  and  as  ready  as  the  New 
Englanders  to  take  up  arms  for  independence ;  as  ready 
indeed  for  war  as  their  fathers  had  been  to  fight  in  order  to 
ensure  the  safety  of  the  Protestant  William's  throne. 

When  the  Scotch-Irish  began  their  settlements  in  the  mid- 
dle colonies,  and  particularly  in  the  Commonwealth  of  Penn- 

*History  of  the  Irish  Presbyterian  Church,  by  Rev.  Thomas  Hamil- 
ton, p.  133. 


52  Centennial  Memorial. 

sylvania,  they  stood  in  a  relation  to  the  civil  government 
entirely  different  from  that  of  the  Episcopalians  in  Virginia, 
the  Dutch -Reformed  and  afterwards  the  Episcopalians  in 
New  York,  or  the  Congregationalists  in  New  England.  The 
latter  were  legally  related  to  the  State,  their  church  order 
was  in  some  sense  the  established  religion ;  "  the  standing 
order,"  as  it  was  called  in  New  England,  "the  religion  of  His 
Majesty's  faithful  subjects,"  as  it  was  called  in  Virginia.  Our 
fore-fathers'  Presbyterian  churches  were  voluntary  societies 
in  the  eye  of  the  law;  and  whenever  a  Royal  Governor  chose 
to  do  so,  he  was  able  to  make  the  lives  of  the  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  churches,  and  of  their  ministers  in  partic- 
ular, exceedingly  uncomfortable.  In  New  York,  the  Royal 
Governor  did  all  in  his  j^ower  to  extirpate  Presbyterianism. 
Francis  Makemie  and  John  Hampton,  two  of  our  earliest 
ministers,  were  imprisoned  by  Lord  Cornbury;  and  this  for 
the  avowed  purpose  of  putting  down  the  pestilent  heresy  of 
Presbyterian  dissent;  and  Makemie  had  already  been  made 
to  suffer  for  the  same  reason  in  both  Maryland  and  Virginia. 
Happily  our  ancestors  in  Pennsylvania,  whatever  else 
were  their  trials,  escaped  this  particular  mode  of  suffering. 
This  church  has  among  its  most  valued  members  those  in 
whose  veins  runs  the  blood  of  ancestors  wdio  belonged  to 
the  Society  of  Friends.  The  rest  of  us  may  well  remind 
ourselves  at  this  time  of  the  indebtedness  of  our  Presb}'- 
terian  fathers  to  that  great  souled  and  high  minded  follower 
of  the  Inward  Light,  William  Penn;  who,  in  1682,  came  to 
his  province  of  Pennsylvania  to  begin  wdiat  he  called  "his 
Holy  Experiment"  ;  which  "  Holy  Experiment"  was  a  frame 
of  government,  a  constitution,  of  which  these  were  the  two 


^  Sermon  of  Eev.  John  DeWitt.  53 

distinguishing  traits:  first,  that  the  people  should  govern, 
and  second,  that  there  should  be  liberty  of  conscience. 
Honor,  everlasting  honor,  is  due  by  the  people  of  this  church 
to  the  Commonwealth's  great  proprietor.  This  freedom  of 
conscience,  indeed,  was  one  of  the  chief  causes  of  the  popu- 
larity of  the  province  of  Pennsylvania  as  a  new  home  for 
the  Scotch-Irish  immigrants.  They  settled  in  the  colony  in 
great  numbers.  James  Logan,  William  Penn's  Secretary  of 
his  Province,  said  in  reference  to  the  movement  as  early  as 
1725:  "'It  looks  as  if  Ireland  were  to  send  all  her  inhabi- 
tants hither;  if  they  will  continue  to  come  they  will  make 
themselves  proprietors  of  the  province."  Professor  Maclos- 
kie  of  Princeton  points  out  that  largely  as  the  result  of  this 
movement  the  population  of  the  province  rose  from  20,000 
in  1701,  to  250,000  in  1749. 

At  once  upon  their  settlement  the  immigrants  began  to 
organize  congregations  for  the  worship  of  God.  The  evi- 
dence is  clear  that  the  initiative  was  taken  by  the  people 
themselves.  They  had  fought  too  long  and  too  hard  to 
maintain  in  the  land  of  their  sojourn  the  ordinances  of 
religion,  not  to  make  immediate  provision  for  them  in  the 
new  land  of  liberty.  And  so  while  they  were  felling  the 
trees  and  turning  the  soil,  they  made  every  sacrifice  that 
the}''  and  their  children  might  enjoy  the  stated  services 
of  the  house  of  God.  What  I  wish  to  emphasize  is  the  fact 
that  they  were  never  an  irreligious  people  requiring  evan- 
gelization. They  were  from  the  first  a  religious  people, 
knowing  the  value  of  the  Church  of  God.  The  organization 
of  these  early  churches  was  not  due  to  the  ministers  who 
ministered  in  them,  so  much  as  to  the  laymen  to  whom  they 


54  Centennial  Memorial. 

ministered.  This  was  true  of  almost  every  congregation 
from  Philadelphia  northward  to  the  Irish  Settlement  at 
Easton,  and  from  Philadelphia  westward  through  the  settle- 
ments of  Chester  and  Lancaster  (then  including  Dauphin), 
and  Cumberland  counties. 

It  is  true  that  their  first  ministers  came  from  the  mother 
country.  But  they  did  not  come  to  evangelize  an  unevan- 
gelized  people.  They  came  to  small  communities,  which 
were  Christian  from  the  beginning ;  communities  whose 
members  knew  the  word  of  God  and  believed  it,  and  had 
studied  the  great  system  of  truth  embodied  in  the  West- 
minster symbols,  and  were  moulded  by  it.  In  this  respect, 
the  Scotch-Irish  settlements  were  precisely  like  the  early 
settlements  on  Massachusetts  Bay  and  in  the  Hartford 
and  New  Haven  colonies.  I  dwell  on  this  fact  for  the 
reason  that  in  the  histories  of  Presbyterianism  in  America 
thus  far  written,  too  much  relatively  has  been  assigned  to 
the  ministry  and  too  little  to  the  strong.  God-fearing  men 
and  women  of  the  laity.  The  life  of  these  churches  at  the 
beginning  was  in  this  respect  precisely  like  their  subsequent 
careers.  What  would  the  later  history  of  this  church  have 
been  but  for  the  profound  religious  life,  and  the  continuous 
religious  activity  of  the  laity — the  godly  women  and  God- 
fearing men ;  but  for  the  church  in  the  household,  the 
training  of  the  children  by  parents,  and  the  family  Bible, 
and  the  family  prayers  ?  So  it  was  at  the  organization  of 
our  congregations  in  all  the  province. 

Closely  connected  witii  the  churches  the}^  founded  were 
the  parochial  schools.  I  am  sure  that  I  need  take  no  time  to 
show  you  that  the  Calvinistic  theology  must  lead,  as  in  fact 


Sermon  of  Rev.  John  De  Witt.  55 

it  always  has  led,  to  the  establishment  of  a  system  of  gen- 
eral education.  A  people,  fed  on  the  religious  truths  of 
that  highly  organized  and  profound  system,  will  always  see 
to  it,  as  a  matter  of  the  first  importance,  that  their  children 
are  disciplined  and  cjllured  far  more  carfully  than  them- 
selves. We  all  know  how  true  this  is  to-day.  It  was  just 
as  true  at  the  beginning.  Our  forefathers  planted  the  church 
and  the  school  side  by  side.  "  With  them,"  as  has  well  been 
said,  "religion  and  education  were  inseparable;  no  religion 
without  the  training  of  the  intelligence ;  no  education  divorced 
from  piety.  The  school  was  always  planted  near  the  church, 
the  schoolmaster  was  often  the  pastor,  often  a  candidate  for 
the  ministry,  often  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  church."*  So  Mr. 
Chambers,  writing  of  the  Scotch-Irish  settlers  in  the  Cumber- 
land Valley,  sa^'s  :  "Simultaneously  with  the  organization  of 
congregations  was  the  establishment  of  school  houses  in  every 
neighborhood.  In  these  schools  were  taught  the  rudiments 
of  education,  of  which  a  part  was  generally  obtained  at  home. 
The  Bible  was  the  standard  daily  reader,  and  the  Shorter 
Catechism  was  to  be  recited  and  heard  by  all  in  the  school 
as  a  standard  exercise  on  every  Saturday  morning." 

But  they  were  not  content  with  this  general  system  of 
education.  The}^  had  scarcely  been  settled  in  their  new 
homes  when  they  began  to  feel  that  the  ministry,  and  the 
members  of  the  other  learned  professions,  must  be  provided 
out  of  their  own  families.  The  Scotch  Irish  immigration 
and  settlement  took  place  about  one  hundred  years  later 
than  the  settlement  of  ^Massachusetts.  The  Scotch  Irish 
were    without   the   advantage   of  a   charter   of  their  own, 

*  Prof.  G.  Macloskie  :  The  Scotch-Irish  and  Education. 


56  Centennial  Memorial. 

such  as  was  possessed  by  the  inhabitants  of  Massachusetts. 
But  they  began  at  once  individually  and  through  their 
church  courts,  to  make  provision  for  the  higher  education. 
So  William  Tennent  established  the  Log  College  on  the 
Neshaminy,  that  was  merged  in  Princeton  College  in  1746. 
So,  as  early  as  1739,  John  Thompson  proposed  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Donegal — the  Presbytery  to  which  Paxtang  and 
Derry  and  Hanover  churches  belonged — the  erection  of  a 
school  to  be  placed  under  the  care  of  the  Synod,  and  the 
Synod  in  the  same  year  approved  the  plan  ;  and  thus  arose 
the  school  at  New  London  in  this  State.  So  arose  the  Acad- 
emy in  Philadelphia,  with  Francis  Allison  as  Principal,  out 
of  which  issued  the  great  University  of  Pennsylvania.  So 
was  founded  the  celebrated  school  of  Samuel  Finley  at  Not- 
tingham, and  the  school  of  Samuel  Blair  at  Fagg's  Manor. 
It  vvas  precisely  these  schools  and  others  like  them  that 
made  the  middle  colonies  independent  at  the  war  of  Inde- 
pendence, and  enabled  them  to  come  to  the  formation  of 
the  Federal  and  State  constitutions,  with  culture  and  dis- 
cipline adequate  to  the  great  work.* 

As  to  the  home  life  of  these  early  Presbyterians,  it  must 
be  remembered  that  the}^  came  to  subdue  to  the  use  of  man 
a  section  of  the  country  which,  if  rich  and  fruitful,  was  dif- 
ficult to  conquer.  Moreover  they  had  to  forge  and  frame 
their  instruments  of  conquest.  The  modern  era  of  labor- 
saving  machinery  was  not  to  be  ushered  in  for  a  century. 
When  Thomas  McCormick,  in  1745,  took  up  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  Hanover  township  of  this  county,  he  did 
not  have  the  advantage  in  reaping  his  crops,  of  the  great 

*  See  Appendix,  Note  I. 


Sermon  of  Rev.  John  DeWitt.  57 

''liarvester,"  which  his  great  grandson  Cyrus  Hall  McCor- 
mick  invented  almost  ninety  years  later.  Our  forefathers 
rose  early  and  toiled  hard.  Theirs  was  not  the  generation 
that  formed  towns  and  cities.  It  was  not  the  first,  hut  the 
second  John  Harris,  who  founded  Harrisburg.  The  first 
generation  was  a  generation  of  farmers.  The}'  settled  "  near 
the  springs  and  the  brooks  and  in  the  valleys."  They 
lived  in  log  cabins,  of  two  rooms.  They  found  comfort 
on  hard  settees  and  benches.  They  had  few  dishes,  and 
few  spoons,  even  of  pewter;  and  they  had  to  be  content 
often  with  cups  and  pitchers  of  gourds.  Slowly  the  con- 
ditions changed  ;  and  all  the  more  slowly  because  Great 
Britain's  colonial  policy  was  as  harsh  and  tyrannical  as 
possible.  For  instead  of  fostering,  Great  Britain  did  all 
that  could  be  done  to  prevent  the  growth  of  manufactures 
in  her  possessions.  But  hard  as  the  life  was  the  Scotch 
Irish  farmers  were  sustained  by  the  great  truths  of  their 
holy  religion,  and  by  that  strong  racial  character  that  has 
made  the  Scotch  the  most  persistent  of  European  peoples. 
In  that  early  period  when  they  were  called  to  conquer 
nature,  during  which,  as  a  great  American  divine  has 
pointed  out,  there  was  in  the  conditions  of  their  lives  great 
danger  of  a  lapse  into  barbarism,  they  were  held  to  a  high 
ideal  of  life  by  their  theology  and  their  church  life.  They 
were  lifted  out  of  their  hardships  by  their  study  of  the  Bible 
and  their  common  and  their  private  prayers  to  God. 

The  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterian  settlers  of  this  part  of  the 
country  have  more  than  once  been  attacked  by  writers  of 
our  own  State  for  their  treatment  of  the  red  Indians,  and 
the  "Uprising  of  the  Paxtang  Boys,"  and  the  summary  ven- 


58  •      Centennial  Memorial. 

geance  taken  by  them  at  Conestoga  and  at  Lancaster  upon 
those  whom  the  provincial  government  would  not  punish, 
has  been  made  the  text  of  many  a  discourse  against  the 
cruelty  of  our  ancestors.  That  wrongs  have  been  perpe- 
trated against  individuals  among  the  Red  men  by  individ- 
uals in  every  frontier  settlement  of  the  country  there  is  no 
good  reason  to  doubt.  To  say.  that  among  the  Scotch-Irish 
Presbyterian  settlers  were  "  men  of  blood,"  is  only  to  say 
that  they  were  like  any  other  community.  But  that  as  com- 
munities they  wronged  the  Indians  there  is  no  shadow  of 
evidence.  We  ma}^  lay  it  down  as  a  truth  based  upon  a 
law  of  God,  that  no  people  could  ever  have  had  a  title  to 
this  fruitful  valley  as  a  hunting  ground.  At  the  beginning, 
God  gave  man  the  Garden  and  placed  him  there  "to  dress 
it  and  to  keep  it."  And  we  may  be  sure  that  it  is  God's  will 
that  Esau,  the  mere  hunter,  shall  always  go  down  before 
the  laborious  Jacob,  the  worker  in  the  fields,  the  plain  man 
dwelling  in  tents.  The  laborious  Scotch-Irishman  found 
no  difficulty  in  dwelling  side  by  side  with  the  laborious 
German  man.  Together  and  in  peace  in  this  very  county 
they  have  turned  the  sod  of  the  valley  and  the  uplands, 
and  sowed  and  reaped  the  harvests. 

But  the  hunter,  the  Red  Indian,  who  would  not  labor 
and  who  contemplated  with  envy  the  growing  wealth  of  the 
white  man,  mourned  the  loss  of  the  land  as  mere  "hunting 
grounds ; "  and  along  the  frontiers  of  the  country  killed  or 
carried  off  to  bondage  more  bitter  than  death  hundreds  of 
families.  It  is  no  wonder,  as  the  historian  Parkman  says, 
that  the  frontier  people  of  Pennsylvania  "were  goaded  to 
desperation   by  long-continued  suffering."     Day  after  day 


Sermon  of  Rev.  John  Dc  Witt.  59 

they  lived  in  danger  from  the  treachery  and  the  cruelty  of 
the  savages  whom  no  kindness  could  make  trustworthy 
friends,  and  whom  no  efforts  succeeded  in  civilizing.  We, 
who  remember  the  civil  war,  know  how  easily,  at  so  late  a 
date  as  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-one,  the  most  violent 
of  passions  were  enkindled.  What  wonder  that  they  were 
aroused  in  the  days  of  our  forefatliers,  when  it  was  the 
custom  because  it  was  an  absolute  necessity  of  John  Elder's 
congregation,  the  minister  included,  to  worship  God  in 
Paxtang  church  under  arms.*  And  when  Lazarus  Stewart 
was  told  that  the  Indian  settlement  at  Conestoga,  professedly 
friendly  to  the  whites,  was  treacherously  harboring  and 
entertaining  an  Indian  known  to  have  murdered  a  white 
man's  family,  what  w^onder  that  at  the  time  when  the  con- 
spiracy of  Pontiac  was  threatening  every  English  settlement 
on  the  frontier,  a  company  was  raised  to  inflict  the  punish- 
ment, which  a  neglectful  government  refused  to  inflict? 
Whatever  may  be  said  of  this  particular  incident,  this  I 
think  is  true;  that  no  English  speaking  population  in  the 
country  has  ever  dealt  more  fairly  as  between  the  Indian  and 
themselves  than  the  Scotch-Irish  citizens  of  Pennsylvania ; 
and  no  people  certainly  were  subject  to  greater  provocations. 
The  mother  churches  of  this  part  of  the  country  were 
planted  between  the  close  of  the  first  quarter  and  the  close 
of  the  first  half  of  the  century.  Paxtang,  the  mother  of  this 
church,  being  founded  about  1732.  It  ought  to  be  said  that 
the  period  was  not  one  in  which  the  religious  life  was  warm 
and  glowing.  In  this  respect,  it  was  a  period  of  deca- 
dence.    There   was   a  good    deal    of  mere  formality ;  and 

*Parkman's  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  Vol.  II.,  p.  119,  et  seq. 


60  Centennial  Memorial. 

there  was  a  strong  disposition  to  distrust  religious  experi- 
ences. This  disposition  was  nowhere  stronger  than  in  this 
part  of  the  country.  But  the  earl}'  Presb3'terian  churches 
of  the  Middle  Colonies  had  scarcely  been  planted  when,  in 
both  England  and  America,  there  occurred  the  Great  Evan- 
gelical Revival.  *In  Great  Britain  it  infused  new  life  into 
the  churches  of  England  and  Scotland  and  Ireland.  In 
America  its  influence  was  felt  from  Massachusetts  to  Geor- 
gia. It  was  marked  by  the  earnest  preaching  of  great 
preachers.  The  sermons  of  Edwards  in  New  England  of 
the  Tennents  in  the  Middle  Colonies,  and  of  Davies  in  Vir- 
ginia remain  to  us  and  serve  to  show  the  type  of  preaching 
common  at  the  time.  Some  of  its  iiiethods  were  blame- 
worthy, and  some  of  its  evils  were  serious;  but  the  inci- 
dental evils  were  spots  upon  the  sun.  It  radiated  every- 
where the  warmth  and  the  light  the  churches  needed  for 
a  more  vigorous  life.  The  Scotch-Irish  churches  of  this 
section  fought  against  its  methods.  The  Rev.  John  Elder, 
strong,  honest,  believing  in  the  Bible  and  in  the  theology 
of  his  church,  had  no  confidence  in  it.  But,  its  influ- 
ence was  felt  in  all  the  congregations,  and  in  most  of  the 
houses  of  the  Valle3^  Even  before  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution it  had  wrought  a  great  change  in  the  life  of  the 
churches  and  of  the  people.  And  when  the  hardships  of 
that  terrible  struggle  had  brought  the  people  nearer  to  God, 
the  more  genial  religious  life  which  had  been  wrought  by 
the  Spirit  of  God  during  the  great  evangelical  movement' 
was  characteristic  of  the  homes  and  the  churches  of  our 

*Here,  as  in  one  or  two  other  places,  I  quote  from  my  address  before 
the  Presbyterian  Historical  Society  on  the  First  General  Assembly. 


Sermon  of  Ecv.  John  DeWitt.  61 

fathers.  Meanwhile,  the  country  about  Harrisburg  luid  been 
more  thickly  settled,  and  the  son  of  the  first  settler  had 
founded  the  town.  Tlius,  in  the  more  genial  atmosphere  of 
the  great  revival,  this  churcli  was  founded  one  hundred 
years  ago. 

I  do  not  know  how  better  to  conclude  this  brief  account 
of  the  conditions  that  immediately  ante-dated  the  birth  of 
this  church,  than  to  urge  upon  you  the  duty  of  keeping 
green  the  memory  of  your  godly  ancestry,  that  you  may 
intelligenth"  thank  God  for  the  blessings  he  has  given  to 
you,  in  preparing  the  way  for  this  church  by  their  faithful 
and  laborious  and  religious  lives.  The  sons  and  daughters 
of  this  congregation  owe  a  large  debt  not  only  to  their 
parents  and  grandparents  Avho  for  three  generations  have 
been  members  of  this  church,  but  also,  and  this  a  debt 
quite  as  large,  to  those  more  remote  ancestors,  who  while 
they  spun  the  wool  and  linen  and  plowed  the  soil,  read 
the  Bible,  and  taught  the  catechism,  and  honored  the  Sab- 
bath, and  built  Hanover  and  Derry  and  Paxtang  churches, 
and  established  schools,  and  laid  the  foundations  of  a  great 
Christian  State.  If  Paul  could  glory  in  his  people  to  whom 
belonged  the  covenants  and  the  giving  of  the  law  and  the 
promises,  you  may  thank  God  for  those  from  whom  you 
are  descended.  But  while  we  thank  God  for  them,  let  us 
remember  that  in  leaving  to  us  a  great  inheritance  they 
have  left  to  us  great  duties,  also.  The  family  religion 
which  was  theirs  it  is  ours  to  maintain ;  the  truth  which 
made  them  strong  it  is  for  us  to  guard ;  the  public  schools 
of  which  they  were  the  founders  here,  it  is  our  sacred  mission 
to  defend  against  all  open  and  concealed  enemies;  the  Bible 


62  Centennial  Memorial. 

which  made  them  strong  and  courageous  and  hopeful  in 
life  and  in  death,  it  is  our  duty  to  make  our  rule  of  faith 
and  life ;  and  to  the  God  to  whose  service  they  gave  them- 
selves— the  God  of  our  fathers — it  is  our  privilege  at  this 
time  to  dedicate  anew  all  our  powers  and  possessions  in  an 
everlasting  covenant. 

At  the  close  of  Dr.  DeWitt's  address,  the  Rev.  Thomas  H. 
Robinson,  D.  D.,  for  thirty  years  pastor  of  this  church, 
offered  prayer.  The  minister  announced  hymn  No.  730 
which  the  congregation,  having  risen,  sang  with  spirit. 

See  the  ransom'd  millions  stand, 
Palms  of  conquest  in  their  hanrt  ; 
This  before  the  throne  their  strain, 
"Hell  is  vanquish'd  ;  death  is  slain  ; 
Blessing,  honor,  glory,  might. 
Are  the  conqueror's  native  right ; 
Thrones  and  powers  before  him  fall, 
Lamb  of  God  and  Lord  of  all ! " 

Hasten,  Lord,  the  promised  hour  ; 
Come  in  glory  and  in  power ; 
Still  thy  foes  are  unsubdued  ; 
Nature  sighs  to  be  renew'd  ; 
Time  has  nearly  reach'd  its  sum : 
All  things  with  the  bride  say  ' '  Come  I  " 
Jesus  !  whom  all  worlds  adore. 
Come,  and  reign  for  evermore  ! 

After  the  Benediction  had  been  pronounced  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  John  DeWitt,  Smart's  March  in  D  was  rendered  as  an 
organ  postlude,  and  the  audience  dispersed  with  the  con- 
viction that  Centennial  Week  had  been  successfully  inau- 
gurated, and  would  be  a  most  notable  week  in  the  history 
of  the  church. 


SUNDAY  EVENING, 

February  the  11th,  1891,.,  at  6  o'clock. 


Seventy-Eighth   Anniversary   of   the   Sunday-School. 

Mr.  Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell,  Superintendent,  presiding. 

A  large  audience,  filling  every  available  space  in  pew, 
aisle,  vestibule  and  gallery,  gathered  to  celebrate  the 
Seventy-eighth  anniversary  of  the  Sunday-school.  Many 
persons  were  unable  to  enter  the  church.  The  Primary 
department  occupied  the  front  seats  of  the  middle  block  of 
pews,  the  Intermediate  department  were  in  the  block  of 
pewslto  the  right  of  the  Superintendent,  while  the  Senior 
department  were  in  the  block  to  the  left  of  the  Superinten- 
dent, and  in  the  middle  block,  back  of  the  Primary  depart- 
ment. Those  not  connected  with  the  Sunday-school  found 
seats  or  standing  room  as  best  they  could.  The  decorations 
of  the  church  were  the  same  as  those  of  the  morning. 

The  services  were  opened  promptly  at  6  o'clock  with  the 
organ  prelude,  Silas's  "  March  in  F.,"  followed  by  an 
anthem,  "  I  was  glad  when  they  said  unto  me,  let  us  go 
into  the  house  of  the  Lord,"  sung  by  the  choir  of  the  Senior 
department.  This  choir  was  composed  of  about  fifteen  of 
the  best  voices  in  the  Senior  department,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Mrs.  John  C.  Harve3^  Mrs.  Harvey  was  most 
devoted  and  painstaking  in  training  them  for  the  accurate 
rendering  of  the  solo  and  chorus  parts  in  the  anthems  of 
the  evening. 


64  Centennial  Memorial. 

The  Superintendent.  The  Rev.  William  P.  Patterson^ 
Pastor  of  the  Olivet  Presbyterian  church,  will  offer  the  invo- 
cation, and  at  its  close  will  lead  the  congregation  in  repeat- 
ing the  Lord's  prayer. 

The  congregation  then  united  in  singing  the  first  and 
third  stanzas  of  No.  30  in  Winnowed  Songs,  the  hymn 
book  in  use  in  the  Senior  department: 

True  hearted,  whole  hearted,  faithful  and  loyal, 
King  of  our  lives  :  by  thy  grace  we  will  be  ; 
Under  the  standard  exalted  and  royal. 
Strong  in  thy  strength  we  will  battle  for  thee. 

Chorus. 
Peal  out  the  watch  word  I  silence  it  never  ! 
Song  of  our  spirits  rejoicing  and  free ; 
Peal  out  the  watch  word  !  loyal  forever, 
King  of  our  lives,  by  thy  grace  we  will  be. 

True  hearted,  whole  hearted.  Saviour  all-glorious  ! 
Take  thy  great  power,  and  reign  there  alone, 
Over  our  wills  and  affections  victorious. 
Freely  surrendered  and  wholly  thine  own — Cho. 

Mr.  Samuel  C.  Miller,  Secretary  of  the  Senior  department, 
read  the  report  of  the  Primary  department.  This  report 
showed  that  there  were  enrolled  during  the  year  1893  five 
officers  and  three  hundred  and  nine  scholars,  a  total  of  three 
hundred  and  fourteen.  That  the  offerings  during  the  same 
period  amounted  to  $95.36,  which  sum  was  appropriated  to 
the  support  of  the  school,  and  to  missionary  and  benevo- 
lent causes. 

Seven  scholars  have  been  present  every  Sabbath  :  Ma}" 
Landis,  Katie  Wolford,  Sarah  McCord,  Mabel  Swanberry, 


Exercises  of  Primary  Department.  65 

Thonicas  McCord,  Malcolm  Dwyer,  Freddie  Ehrismaii.  One 
scholar  has  been  present  every  Sabbath  but  one,  Kenneth 
Dwyer.  Four  scholars  have  been  present  every  Sabbath 
but  two :  Ellen  Boyd,  Minnie  Wolford,  Eva  Smith,  Helen 
Wei  dm  an. 

The  Superintendent.  We  will  now  be  glad  to  listen 
to  the  exercises  of  the  Primary  department. 

The  children  of  this  department,  with  Mr.  George  R. 
Fleming  leading,  sang : 

"  Another  Year." 

Another  year  we've  trod  the  way 

That  leads  to  joy  and  heaven, 
Then  join  with  us  and  sing  to-day 

Of  blessings  freely  given. 

Chorus. 

Singing,  singing, 

As  the  years  go  rolling  by. 
Working,  striving. 

For  a  home  on  high. 

Each  trusting  heart  with  pleasure  rife 

Each  eye  with  hope  is  gleaming, 
While  sweetly  o'er  the  path  of  life 

The  Saviour's  smile  is  beaming.— C/to. 

'Mid  pastures  green  at  last  we'll  rest 

Beside  the  flowing  river, 
And  with  the  happy  spirits  blest 

We'll  dwell  in  peace  forever.— C/io. 

Mrs.  Gilbert  M.  McCauley,  the  Superintendent  of  the 
department,  then  led  the  children  in  repeating  the  100th 
Psalm,  after  which  they  sang : 


66  .  Centennial  Memorial. 

Little  Workers. 

Early  in  the  morning 

When  the  glorious  sun, 
All  the  earth  adorning, 

Has  its  work  begun. 
We  will  rise  with  gladness 

And  a  song  of  Joy, 
For  each  happy  moment 

Brings  us  sweet  employ. 

Chorus. 
Working  for  the  Master, 

In  his  garden  fair, 
For  he  loves  to  see  us. 

Working  there. 

Deeds  of  love  and  honor 

Will  the  Father  bless. 
Deeds  of  joy  and  patience, 

And  of  truthfulness  ! 
All  will  grow  together 

Till  the  reaper  come. 
Then  hell  pluck  them  gladly 

For  his  harvest  home. — Cho. 

Bright  as  heav'nly  sunshine 

Is  the  Father's  smile ; 
When  the  shades  of  even 

Bid  us  rest  awhile. 
Let  us  listen  softly, 

We  may  hear  him  say  : 
"Well  done,  little  workers, 

Faithful  all  the  day."— C/jo. 


The  part  the  little  folks  take  in  the  anniversary  is  always 
listened  to  with  interest  and  delight. 


Address  by  Mr.  George  E.  Sterry.  67 

The  choir  of  the  Senior  department  followed  with  the 
anthem,  "  Lord,  Thy  Mercy  Streameth." 

The  Superintendent.  Dr.  DeWitt,  who  is  noted  upon  our 
programme  for  an  address  at  this  point  in  our  exercises,  is 
unable  to  be  with  us,  because  of  the  desire  of  Dr.  Chambers, 
of  the  Pine  Street  Church,  that  he  should  occupy  his  pulpit 
this  evening.  He  has,  however,  furnished  a  substitute  in 
the  person  of  Mr.  George  E.  Sterry,  for  the  past  twenty-five 
years  superintendent  of  Hope  Chapel  Sunday-school,  a  mis- 
sion of  the  Fourth  Avenue  Presbyterian  church.  New  York 
city,  in  which  he  is  an  elder.  Mr.  Sterry  has  had  knowl- 
edge of  this  school  in  the  past.  Some  years  ago  he  came 
here  upon  a  visit,  and  after  repeating  his  visit,  I  cannot  tell 
how  many  times,  succeeded  in  capturing  and  carrying  away 
with  him  a  young  lady  who  was  then  a  scholar  in  this 
school.  I  am  sure  that  he  ought  to  have  a  very  high  re- 
gard for  the  school,  because  this  young  lady,  to  whom  I 
have  just  referred,  has  made  him  a  most  excellent  wife.  On 
this  occasion  we  have  captured  Mr.  Sterry,  and  I  know  that 
you  will  be  greatly  gratified  to  hear  from  him  at  this  time. 

Mr.  Sterry  spoke  substantially  as  follows,  his  address 
being  listened  to  with  rapt  attention  by  old  and  young: 

Mr.  George  E.  Sterry's  Address. 

I  am  going  to  use  small  words  so  that  the  small  folks  can 
understand  me,  as  I  am  most  anxious  that  they  should. 
Your  superintendent  has  said  that  I  have  been  for  twenty- 
five  years  superintendent  of  the  Hope  Chapel  Mission  school 
in  New  York.  About  twenty-five  years  ago  a  little  com- 
pany of  us  went  over  to  the  east  side  in  New  York  city  and 


68  Centennial  Memorial. 

established  a  Sunday-school  which  we  have  carried  on  ever 
since.  It  has  been  the  means  of  much  blessing  to  many 
people.  I  could  tell  you  many  stories  which  would  show 
you  how  much  good  has  been  done.  More  than  three  hun- 
dred young  people  have  united  with  the  church  as  a  result 
of  this  mission  work.  One  boy  entered  our  Sunday-school 
ten  years  ago.  He  was  at  that  time  fifteen  years  old.  He 
was  not  very  bright,  but  he  had  one  good  point,  he  w^as 
willing  to  come  to  Sunday-school.  There  is  always  hope 
for  a  boy  who  will  attend  Sunday-school.  Now  he  is  super- 
intendent of  a  Sunday-school  over  in  Brooklyn  and  is  an 
elder  in  the  church. 

A  few  Sundays  ago  he  asked  the  children  what  was  the 
forbidden  fruit — you  know  we  had  a  lesson  recently  about 
the  forbidden  fiuit — and  they  all  said  it  was  the  peach. 
Probably  that  was  because  I  was  over  there  a  little  while 
before  and  told  them  a  story  of  a  forbidden  peach.  If  you 
will  listen  I  will  tell  it  to  you.  On  one  occasion  a  mother 
put  a  beautiful  peach  on  an  upper  shelf  in  the  cupboard, 
and  as  she  was  leaving  the  house  to  go  on  an  errand, 
she  told  John  and  Mary,  her  children,  that  they  must  not 
touch  that  peach.  After  she  was  gone,  John  said  to  Mary, 
"  I  would  like  to  see  that  peach."  Mary  replied,  "  Mother 
said  you  must  not  touch  it."  John  said,  "  I  will  not  touch 
it,  I  just  want  to  look  at  it."  So  he  drew  a  chair  to  the 
side  of  the  cupboard  and  stood  upon  it,  but  he  could 
not  see  or  reach  the  peach.  After  a  little  while  he  tried 
again,  putting  a  book  upon  the  chair,  but  without  success. 
Then  another  book  and  another  trial,  but  still  he  could  not 
reach  the  peach.     Then   a   third   book  and  a  third  trial. 


Address  by  Mr.  George  E.  Sterry.  69 

This  time  he  was  able  to  reach  the  peach.  As  he  held  it, 
it  looked  so  good  he  thought  he  would  taste  it.  Just  as 
he  bit  into  it  his  mother  opened  the  door,  and  he  was 
caught  in  the  very  act.  And  what  was  more,  the  peach, 
instead  of  being  a  nice,  ripe  peach,  was  a  wax  peach,  in 
which  his  teeth  stuck  so  that  he  could  neither  open  nor 
shut  his  mouth.  He  stood  there  guilty  before  his  mother. 
What  a  foolish  thing  for  a  boy  to  disobey  his  parents. 

Twenty  years  ago  one  of  our  girls  brought  fifteen  new 
scholars  into  the  Sunday-school  in  a  very  short  time.  She 
afterwards  gave  her  heart  to  Christ,  united  with  the  church, 
and  is  now  the  wife  of  a  Christian  gentleman  who  is  a 
lawyer  and  an  elder  in  the  church.  He  also  was  a  scholar 
in  the  school  at  one  time.  You  thus  see,  my  dear  children, 
that  the  Sunday-school  is  a  great  blessing  to  those  who 
attend,  and  I  hope  that  this  school  will  be  the  means  of 
leading  many  of  you  to  give  your  hearts  to  Jesus  Christ. 

I  will  close  what  I  have  to  say  with  the  story  of  an 
English  Lord  who  offered  to  the  people  round  about  his 
country  residence  to  pay  all  their  debts.  He  published  it 
everywhere  in  the  neighborhood  that  between  10  and  12 
o'clock  on  a  certain  day  he  would  pay  the  debts  of  any 
one  who  came  to  him  and  asked  him  to  do  so  When  the 
time  came  man}^  curious  people  gathered  about  his  office 
wondering  what  it  all  meant,  but  no  one  ventured  to  go 
in  and  ask  him  to  pay  their  debts.  At  last  an  old  man 
and  his  wife  came  up,  and  as  they  were  going  in  some  one 
said  "You  don't  think  he  will  pay  your  debts,  do  you?" 
And  he  said,  "  Yes,  certainly  I  do,  for  he  said  he  would." 
They  went  in  and  gave  him  a  list  of  all  that  they  owed, 


70  Centennial  Memorial 

and  he  drew  his  check  upon  the  bank  for  the  whole 
amount.  They  were  the  only  ones  whose  debts  were  paid 
because  they  were  the  only  ones  who  had  faith  to  take  their 
lord  at  his  word.  How  foolish  it  was  for  those  who  stood 
about  the  office  not  to  believe  their  lord  and  ask  him  to  do 
what  he  promised  to  do!  Our  Lord  Jesus  has  promised  to 
pay  all  our  debts,  if  we  will  but  ask  him.  Let  us  all  ask 
him  to  pay  the  debt  of  sin  which  we  owe,  and  so  save  us 
from  eternal  death. 

Mr.  Miller  read  the  report  of  the  Intermediate  depart- 
ment. This  department  had  on  its  roll  during  the  year  1893 
seven  officers,  twenty-eight  teachers,  and  two  hundred  and 
sixty-eight  scholars,  a  total  enrollment  of  three  hundred 
and  three. 

The  contributions  of  the  department  during  the  year 
amounted  to  $1,065.98,  which  were  given  to  various,  mis- 
sionary and  benevolent  causes. 

The  Superintendent,  Mrs.  David  Fleming  and  one  teacher, 
Miss  Sarah  C.  Cowden,  were  present  every  Sabbath  during 
the  year.  Eighteen  scholars  were  present  ever}^  Sabbath: 
Gertie  G.  Carnes,  Rhoda  M.  Bell,  Jenny  Brookens,  Minnie 
E.  Snoddy,  Carrie  Speise,  Bessie  Stephens,  Laura  McCord, 
Alice  E.  Gingher,  Blaine  Fry,  David  Wingeard,  Willie  Rein- 
del,  John  E.  Swanberry,  Milton  W.  Swanberry,  M.  Frank 
Bishop,  Joseph  Hogentogler,  Charley  Taylor,  Frank  Dwyer, 
John  Dwyer. 

Eleven  scholars  were  absent  one  Sunday  :  Clarence  P. 
McCoy,  Harry  Bradigan,  Boyd  E.  Morrow,  Frank  Kittner, 
Robert  Ehrisman,  Cora  W.  Anderson,  Annie  Malseed,  Viola 
Bell,  A.  Mabel   Bishop,  Mabel  Y.  Chester,  Cora  E.  Shertzer. 


Exercises  of  Intermediate  Department.  71 

Seven  scholars  were  absent  two  Sabbaths :  Annie  Spicer, 
Mary  Arnold,  Irene  S.  Loudenslager,  Bertha  M.  Meredith, 
Mar}^  E.  Wager,  Edward  G.  Hershman,  Ronald  Harvie. 

The  Superintendent.     We  wall  now  be  interested  in  at- 
tending to  some  exercises  b}'  the  Intermediate  department- 
The  Intermediate  department,  with  Mr.  Fleming  leading, 
sang: 

Come  Sing  with  Glad  Voices. 
Come  children,  and  sing  with  glad  voices, 

The  praises  of  Jesus  our  king  I 
The  world  in  his  coming  rejoices, 
And  we  will  adore  him  and  sing  ! 

Chorus. 
We'll  sing  of  the  Saviour  who  loves  us. 

And  carol  with  gladness  our  lay, 
We'll  sing  of  the  little  child  Jesus, 

And  praise  him,  and  praise  him  to-day. 

O  dearly  we  love  the  sweet  story 

Which  comes  thro'  the  centuries  long, 

Of  the  shepherds  beholding  his  glory, 
And  hearing  the  wonderful  song  I — Cho. 

The  wise  men  who  foUow'd  the  leading 

Of  Bethlehem's  beautiful  star. 
Were  guided  to  Him  they  were  seeking 

O'er  mountain  and  river  afar  ! — Cho. 

O  could  we  but  kneel  at  that  manger, 

And  lay  our  best  offerings  there, 
How  gladly  we'd  hail  the  sweet  Stranger, 

With  hearts  full  of  worship  and  pray'r. — Cho. 

Mrs.  David  Fleming,  Superintendent  of  the  Intermediate 
department,  led  her  school  in  the  following  responsive  ser- 
vice: 


72  Centennial  Memorial. 

God  the  Ruler. 

Supt. — Who  rules  all  worlds? 

School. — God  rules  all  worlds. 

Supt. — Whom  does  God  rule  in  heaven  ? 

School. — God  rules  all  spirits  in  heaven. 

Supt. — Whom  does  God  rule  on  earth? 

School. — God  rules  all  people. 

Supt. — What  does  God  give  us  to  obey? 

School. — God  gives  us  good  laws  to  obey. 

Supt. — What  is  God's  law  about  love  and  worship? 

School. — We  must  love  and  worship  the  one  God. 

Supt. — What  is  God's  law  about  idols? 

School. — We  must  not  worship  idols. 

Supt. — What  is  God's  law  about  the  Sabbath? 

School. — We  must  remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it 
holy. 

Supt. — What  is  God's  law  about  our  father  and  mother? 

School. — We  must  honor  our  father  and  mother. 

Supt. — What  is  God's  law  about  stealing? 

School. — We  must  not  steal. 

Sup)t. — What  is  God's  law  about  lying? 

School. — We  must  n*^*"  lie. 

Supt. — What  is  God's  great  law? 

School. — We  must  love  God  and  one  another :  God  is  the 
ruler. 

Obedience. 

Supt. — Why  should  we  obey  God? 

School. — We  should  obey  God,  because  He  is  our  creator; 
He  is  wise;  His  laws  are  holy,  just  and  good,  and  He 
loves  us. 


Exercises  of  Intermediate  Department.  73 

Supt. — What  does  God  want  us  to  be? 

School. — God  wants  us  to  be  good  and  happy  like  himself. 

Supt. — Is  it  a  little  sin  to  disobey  God? 

School. — If  we  disobey  God,  we  sin  greatly. 

Siq^t. — Where  cannot  we  go  if  we  continue  to  disobey 
God? 

School. — We  cannot  enter  heaven. 

Supt. — Whom  can  we  see  when  we  talk  with  them? 

School. — Our  parents  and  friends. 

Supt. — Whom  can  we  not  see  when  we  talk  with  Him  ? 

School. — We  cannot  see  God,  but  we  can  talk  to  Him;  He 
sees  us,  and  knows  all  we  think  and  hears  all  we  say ;  when 
we  talk  to  God  we  pray. 

Supt. — What  must  we  ask  God  to  do  for  us? 

School. — We  must  ask  Him  to  forgive  us  our  sins,  to  help 
us  to  be  good,  to  give  us  the  things  we  need. 

Supt. — For  whom  must  we  pray? 

School. — We  must  pray  for  our  parents  and  friends;  for 
our  teachers  and  schoolmates,  and  for  the  poor,  sick,  ignor- 
ant and  wicked? 

Supt. — When  must  w'e  pray? 

School. — We  must  pray  every  day — at  home  and  away 
from  home,  and  in  the  house  of  God. 

Supt. — What  can  you  say  about  God  ? 

School. — God  hears  and  answers  prayer. 

Worship. 
Supt. — Where  are  the  angels?     And  what  do  they  do? 
School. — The  angels  are  in  heaven ;  they  bow  before  God 
and  worship  Him. 


74  Centennial  Memorial. 

Supt. — What  is  a  church? 

School. — A  church  is  God's  house;  people  go  into  it,  sit 
still  and  think  about  God :  they  should  worship  Him  as  the 
angels  do  in  heaven,  should  listen  and  learn  from  God's 
servant  as  he  preaches  God's  truth.  God  is  a  spirit,  and  we 
must  worship  Him  in  spirit. 

Jesus  Christ  the  Lamb  of  God. 

Supt. — When  was  the  temple  of  God  in  Jerusalem  built? 

School. — Long  before  Jesus  came  from  heaven  to  earth. 

Siqyt. — What  was  a  table  in  the  temple  called? 

School. — The  altar. 

Supt. — What  was  the  altar  for? 

School. — To  offer  sacrifices  upon.  A  man  brought  a  lamb 
to  the  priest ;  he  laid  the  lamb  by  the  altar,  as  God  had  told 
him  to  do. 

Supt. — About  whom  did  the  lamb  help  the  man  to  under- 
stand? 

School. — Helped  him  to  understand  about  the  Christ. 

iSupt. — When  the  man  brought  the  lamb  from  his  home^ 
what  did  he  remember  about  the  Christ? 

School. — He  remembered  that  the  Christ  would  come  from 
heaven  to  earth. 

Supt. — What  should  we  do  if  we  would  live  forever  in 
heaven? 

School. — We  must  repent  of  sin,  love,  obey  and  serve 
God. 

Supt. — Because  Jesus  Christ  died  for  us,  what  is  He 
called? 

School. — The  Lamb  of  God. 


Exercises  of  Intermediate  Department.  75 

Glory  to  God  on  high, 
Let  praises  fill  the  sky  ! 

Praise  ye  his  name. 
Angels  His  name  adore, 
Who  all  our  sorrows  bore, 
And  saints  cry  evermore, 

'•Worthy  the  Lamb?" 

At  the  close  of  the  responsive  service  this  department 
sang: 

Lift  up  Thy  Voice. 
Lift  up  Thy  voice  with  strength,  O  Zion  that  bringeth  good  tidings. 

Lift  up,  lift  up  thy  voice  with  strength,  for  God,  the  Lord  is  here. 
The  fullness  of  the  earth  and  the  people  are  the  Lord's, 

And  ev'ry  where  o'er  sea  and  land,  His  goodness  doth  appear. 

Befrain. 
Lift  up,  lift  up  thy  voice,  and  cry  aloud,  O  Zion  ! 
Arise  and  shine,  let  all  rejoice  for  God  the  Lord  is  here. 

Lift  up,  be  not  afraid,  behold  your  God,  O  Judah, 

The  Lord  shall  come.  His  arm  shall  rule  with  power  from  above, 

He  calls  the  stars  by  name  by  the  greatness  of  His  might, 
He  giveth  power  to  the  faint ;  behold  his  name  is  Love  ! — Ref. 

O  wait  upon  the  Lord,  and  ye  shall  not  be  weary  ; 

The  youths  shall  faint,  the  young  men  fall  who  know  not  God,  the 
Lord, 
All  nations  are  as  nothing  before  the  Lord  of  Hosts, 

But  we  are  all  His  people,  He  sustains  us  by  His  word. — Ref. 

All  of  the  exercises  of  the  Intermediate  department  made 
a  marked  impression  upon  the  audience  and  the  school  was 
justly  praised. 

Mr.  McCarrell  announced  verses  one  and  three  of  hymn 
No.  48,  in  Winnowed  Songs,  and  the  audience,  having 
risen,  joined  heartily  in  the  singing. 


76  Centennial  Memorial. 

Joy  bells  ringing,  children  singing, 
Fill  the  air  with  music  sweet ; 
Joyful  measure,  guileless  pleasure, 
Make  the  chain  of  song  complete. 

Chorus. 
Joy  bells  !  joy  bells  !  never,  never  cease  your  singing  ; 
C3hildren  I  children  I  never,  never  cease  your  singing  ; 
List,  list  the  song  that  swells.    Joy  bells  !  Joy  bells  ! 

Earth  seems  brighter,  hearts  grow  lighter, 
As  the  tuneful  melody 
Charms  our  sadness  into  gladness, 
Pealing,  pealing,  joyfully. — Cho. 

The  Superintendent.  It  is  a  rare  pleasure  to  have  with 
us  him  who  for  thirty  years  was  the  Pastor  of  this  church, 
and  who  by  his  active  interest  in  everything  relating  to  the 
welfare  of  the  school,  contributed  largely  to  making  the 
school  what  it  is  to-day.  I  am  sure  he  is  glad  to  be  with 
us,  and  I  know  you  will  be  more  than  glad  to  hear  him. 
Dr.  Robinson  has  been  with  us  on  so  many  anniversaries 
that  a  formal  introduction  is  unnecessary.  He  will  now 
address  us. 

Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Robinson's  Address. 

This  is  the  seventy-eighth  anniversary  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  When  people  are  seventy-eight  years  of  age  they 
look  old.  This  school  does  not  look  older  than  when  I 
came  to  it  forty  years  ago,  probably  not  any  older  than 
when  it  was  born  in  a  little  frame  house  down  on  Market 
street,  seventy-eight  years  ago.  What  will  it  be  when  it  is 
one  hundred  years  old,  as  this  church  is  to-day?  If  it  keeps 
on  growing  as  it  has  grown  during  the  last  few  years,  then 


Address  by  Rev.  Br.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.  77 

this  room  will  not  be  large  enough  to  hold  it  all.  Not 
every  one  that  looks  old,  however,  is  old.  Old  people  can 
keep  young  just  as  schools  keep  young,  even  though  they 
cannot  keep  young  in  appearance.  We  have  here  to-night 
a  lady  *  who  was  a  member  of  this  school  in  very  early 
days.  She  was  not  one  of  the  first  scholars,  but  she  joined 
the  school  when  it  was  not  more  than  four  or  five  years 
old.  She  remembers  very  well  how  the  school  looked  and 
what  it  was  then.  It  was  a  very  small  affair  to  what  it  is 
now.  Though  she  is  now  more  than  eighty  years  old,  yet 
she  is  as  young  in  heart  as  any  one. 

How  shall  we  keep  young?  That  is  a  very  important 
question.  The  school  keeps  young  by  bringing  new 
scholars  into  it,  "  new  blood,"  as  they  say  in  other  organiza- 
tions. We  keep  3'oung  by  keeping  the  heart  young,  and 
the  heart  is  kept  young  by  bringing  new  affections  and  sym- 
pathy and  interests  into  it.  The  heart  is  kept  young  by  love. 
It  may  be  that  the  day  will  come  when  I  will  need  a  cane 
to  walk  with,  but  I  do  not  mean  that  the  day  shall  come 
when  my  heart  grows  old.  I  hope  we  will  all  keep  young 
in  the  same  way  by  loving  God  and  loving  good.  We  can 
keep  ourselves  young  and  bright  though  we  may  live  to  be 
very  old. 

Mr.  Miller  read  the  report  of  the  Senior  department.  The 
number  enrolled  in  this  department  during  the  year  1893 
was  thirteen  officers,  sixty  teachers  and  five  hundred  and 
ninety-nine  scholars,  a  total  enrollment  of  six  hundred  and 

*Mrs.  Harriet  J.  Agnew,  daughter  of  Dr.  Samuel  Agnew,  an  elder 
in  this  church  from  1820  to  1835,  and  the  widow  of  the  late  Rev.  John 
R.  Agnew,  of  Greencastle,  Pa. 


78  Centennial   Memorial. 

seventy-two.  The  contributions  for  the  year  were  $1,077.64, 
which  sum  was  used  for  the  support  of  the  school  and  for 
benevolent  and  missionary  purposes. 

Three  teachers  were  present  every  Sunday  in  the  year, 
Mr.  George  W.  Boyd,  Mr.  Peter  K.  Sprenkel  and  Mr.  Sharon 
Stephens. 

Twenty-five  scholars  were  present  every  Sunday :  Bertha 
Unger,  Carrie  McCord,  Annie  C.  Wager,  Carrie  P.  Michael, 
Bella  Jones,  Carrie  Tippett,  Bessie  Ehrisman,  Bertha  Tippett, 
Maud  Tippett,  Harry  Zeiter,  George  Deisroth,  Charles  W. 
Hartwick,  Daniel  Crutchley,  Edward  Hogentogler,  William 
H.  Shindler,  William  Taylor,  Luther  R.  Kennedy,  George 
Ehrisman,  Harry  Hilton,  Frederick  H.  Stephens,  Mrs. 
Samuel  Fortney,  William  Steinmeier,  C.  Ross  Colestock, 
Albert  Metzgar,  Mrs.  Samuel  Briggans. 

Seven  scholars  were  present  every  Sunday  but  one :  Bessie 
L.  Eckenroth,  Lydia  Minning,  Tra  Bishop,  Charles  Fr}^, 
John  Kelker,  Harvey  M.  Taylor,  William  McCord.  Four 
scholars  were  present  every  Sunday  but  two:  Richard  M. 
Morrow,  William  Hoke,  Lewis  H.   Carpenter,  John  Arnold. 

Mr.  McCarrell,  while  all  were  standing,  read  responsively 
with  the  school,  the  scripture  lesson  printed  on  the  pro- 
gramme as  followeth  : 

Scripture  Lesson. 

Supt. — Ye  are  the  light  of  the  world.  A  city  that  is  set 
on  a  hill  cannot  be  hid. 

School. — Neither  do  men  light  a  candle,  and  put  it  under 
a  bushel,  but  on  a  candlestick  ;  it  giveth  light  unto  all  that 
are  in  the  house. 


Exercises  of  Senior  Department.  79 

Supt. — Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men  that  they  may 
see  your  good  works,  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in 
heaven. 

School. — Lay  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures  upon  earth, 
where  moth  and  rust  doth  corrupt,  and  where  thieves  break 
through  and  steal : 

Supt. — But  lay  up  for  yourselves  treasures  in  heaven, 
where  neither  moth  nor  rust  doth  corrupt,  and  where 
thieves  do  not  break  through  nor  steal : 

School. — For  where  your  treasure  is,  there  will  your  heart 
be  also. 

Supt. — Ask,  and  it  shall  be  given  you  ;  seek,  and  ye  shall 
find ;  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you: 

School. — For  every  one  that  asketh  receiveth ;  and  he  that 
seeketh  findeth ;  and  to  him  that  knocketh  it  shall  be 
opened. 

The  choir  of  the  senior  department  sang  the  anthem, 
"  Thee  Will  We  Worship."  Mr.  Miller  read  the  reports  of 
the  Chinese  department  and  of  Calvary  Chapel  school,  and 
the  summary  of  all  the  reports.  These  were  as  follow  :  In 
the  Chinese  department  were  enrolled  during  1893,  one 
officer,  eleven  teachers,  and  thirteen  scholars  ;  total,  twenty- 
five.  The  contributions  amounted  to  ^36.93,  given  to 
benevolent  causes.  The  enrollment  of  Calvary  Chapel 
school  during  1893  was  six  officers,  nineteen  teachers,  and 
four  hundred  and  twenty-six  scholars,  a  total  enrollment  of 
four  hundred  and  fifty-one.  The  contributions  amounted 
to  $255.34,  given  to  church  and  benevolent  causes. 

The  summary  of  the  reports  showed  that  during  the  year 
here  were  enrolled  in  the  church  school,  deducting  dupli- 


80  Centennial  Memorial. 

cates  on  account  of  transfers  from  one  department  to 
another,  and  in  Calvary  Chapel  school,  thirty-one  officers, 
one  hundred  and  seventeen  teachers,  and  one  thousand  five 
hundred  and  twenty-two  scholars ;  a  total  of  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  seventy;  and  that  the  contributions 
amounted  to  $2,531.25. 

After  the  senior  choir  sang  "  Rest  for  the  Weary,"  Mr. 
McCarrell  said :  "  No  session  of  the  Sunday-school  is 
entirely  complete  without  the  presence  of  the  pastor,  and 
no  Sunday-school  anniversary  programme  would  be  properly 
made  up  which  did  not  provide  for  an  address  by  the 
pastor,  and  I  know  that  you  will  now  be  very  glad  to  hear 
from  Dr.  Stewart. 

The  Pastor's  Address. 

T  am  reminded  to-night  tliat  though  I  have  been  pastor 
of  this  church  something  over  nine  years,  yet  this  is  the 
tenth  anniversary  of  the  Sunday-school  which  has  occurred 
during  my  pastorate.  This  is  the  one  hundredth  anniver- 
sary of  the  church.  There  is  not  very  much  difference,  for 
you  know  one  hundred  is  only  "  nothing  "  more  than  ten. 
The  fact  that  I  have  been  present  at  ten  such  gatherings 
as  this  gives  me  my  text  to-night.  Take  the  word  TEN 
and  make  an  acrostic  of  it,  and  you  have  the  three  heads  of 
the  sermon. 

I.  Time  Flies. 

How  it  does  fly  !  Here  is  Mrs.  Agnew  with  an  experi- 
ence stretching  back  to  the  fourth  or  fifth  year  of  this  Sun- 
day-school, and  yet  how  rapidly  the  years  have  gone  for 
her!      This  Sunday-school  is   seventy-eight  years  old,  the 


Address  by  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  81 

church  is  one  hundred  years  old,  and  yet  how  short  these 
periods  seem  as  we  look  back  over  them.  The  official  life 
of  our  present  Superintendent,  Mr.  McCarrell,  and  of  his 
revered  predecessor,  Mr.  Weir,  cover  sixty  years  of  tlie  life 
of  this  school,  Mr.  Weir  being  Superintendent  for  forty-four 
years,  and  Mr.  McCarrell  for  sixteen.  May  you,  Mr.  Super- 
intendent, live  to  round  out  your  forty-four  years  of  service 
in  this  office  which  3^ou  so  adorn,  and  in  which  you  are 
such  a  great  blessing  to  the  school.  It  will  not  be  long 
until  you,  children,  are  men  and  women,  until  you,  young 
men  and  maidens,  are  old  men  and  women.  Time  is  going 
very  fast.  It  does  not  wait  for  anybody.  If  you  get  behind 
in  your  work,  if  you  neglect  your  opportunities,  if  you  idle 
away  your  days,  you  cannot  hope  to  make  up  the  loss. 
Lost  time  is  never  found.  Time  past  never  returns.  Be  up 
and  at  your  work  to-day  and  now,  for  time  is  going  rapidly. 

II.  Eternity  is  the  Measure  of  our  Life. 
This  school  is  seventy-eight  years  old,  and  no  matter  how 
long  it  may  last  it  will  be  so  many  years  old,  and  it  must 
come  to  an  end  some  day.  This  school  cannot  live  forever. 
But  we  will  live  forever.  We  never  die.  These  spirits  and 
bodies  of  ours  will  be  separated  some  day  by  what  we  call 
death,  but  it  is  not  death  in  the  sense  that  we  come  to  an 
end.  We  live  on  forever.  Time  is  the  measure  of  the  life 
of  organizations  here  in  the  earth,  but  eternity  is  the 
measure  of  our  life.  We  who  are  living  to-day  will  always 
live.  The  most  blessed  and  solemn  fact  is  that  we  can 
never  get  away  from  ourselves,  we  can  never  get  away  from 
God.  He  and  we  must  live  on  together  throughout  all  the 
ages  that  are  yet  to  come.  How  important  it  is  that  we  have 


82  Centennial  Memorial. 

our  hearts  right  with  him,  that  we  should  be  at  peace  with 
him,  since  we  are  to  live  together  forever.  What  misery  it 
means  for  us  if  we  do  not  love  the  things  he  loves,  and  do  not 
the  things  he  wants  us  to  do.  We  sometimes  hear  people 
say,  "  I  mean  to  be  different  some  day,  I  do  not  mean  to 
live  this  way  always."  Yet  we  must  live  always,  and  if  we 
are  going  to  be  different  we  ought  to  begin  at  once.  For 
w^hat  we  are  now  and  what  we  do  now  are  going  to  tell  much 
on  what  we  are  to  be  in  the  hereafter. 

HI.  Noiv  is  the  Accejjted  Time. 
This  word  noiv  is  the  word  that  is  underscored  and  em- 
phasized throughout  the  whole  Bible.  All  duty  is  written 
in  the  present  tense.  It  is  very  pleasant  to  think  of  the 
past.  It  is  inspiring  to  dream  of  the  future.  The  past  is 
gone  and  we  can  never  change  it.  The  future  is  not  here 
and  we  cannot  yet  have  its  blessings.  But  the  present  is 
here  and  it  is  here  with  all  its  possibilities,  with  all  its 
treasures,  with  all  its  work,  and  with  all  its  duty.  If  we 
are  to  get  what  it  has  we  must  get  it  now,  because  the 
present  is  rapidly  becoming  the  past,  and  as  soon  as  it  is 
gone  it  is  gone  forever.  You  have  a  work  to  do,  do  it. 
You  have  lessons  to  learn,  learn  them.  You  have  duties 
to  perform,  attend  to  them.  You  must  not  wait,  you  cannot 
delay.  Now  is  the  time.  Now  is  the  accepted  time. 
Take  hold  of  the  present  moment.  Do  the  work  that  is 
just  before  you.  Heed  the  old  Scotch  proverb,  "  Do  the 
next  thing."  Do  not  waste  your  time  in  thinking  of  past 
deeds,  or  dreaming  of  coming  honors.  The  past  is  beyond 
your  control,  and  the  future  is  yet  to  come  into  your  hands. 
Seize  the  present  moment,  do  your  duty  now,  and   you  w'ill 


Exercises  of  Senior  Department.  83 

find  your  life  being  filled  with  good  things,  and  your  life 
work  being  fully  accomplished. 

Now,  you  have  my  sermon.  I  do  not  think  it  will  be 
hard  for  you  to  remember  the  text  and  the  divisions. 
TEN:  T — time  flies.  E — eternity  is  the  measure  of  our 
life.     N — now  is  the  accepted  time. 

The  SuPERiNTENDEi^T.  The  distribution  of  prizes  for 
unbroken  attendance  during  the  last  year  should  be 
made  at  this  point.  The  hour,  however,  is  growing  late, 
and  the  crowded  condition  of  the  room  makes  it  almost 
impossible  for  the  librarians  to  reach  the  scholars  who  are 
entitled  to  the  prizes.  The  books  will  therefore  be  handed 
to  the  scholars  entitled  to  them  upon  their  coming  to  the 
platform  after  the  benediction  shall  have  been  pronounced. 
In  connection  with  this  distribution,  I  desire  to  call 
attention  to  the  fact  that  these  books  are  the  gift  of  a 
former  Superintendent  of  the  school,  whose  love  for  his 
scholars  prompted  him  to  provide  in  his  will  a  fund,  from 
the  income  of  which  this  annual  distribution  of  gifts  might 
be  made.  We  are  grateful  for  his  kindness  and  liberalitv, 
and  the  school  should  never  fail  to  remember  him,  of 
whom  Dr.  DeWitt  this  morning  so  appropriately  and 
eloquently  spoke  when  he  characterized  him  as  that  man 
of  God  and  friend  of  man,  James  Wallace  Weir.  These 
books,  as  they  go  into  the  hands  of  the  scholars  who  have 
earned  them,  bear  the  imprint  of  the  James  Weir  Fund,  and 
I  trust  that  those  who  are  to  receive  them  ma}^  be  imbued 
with  the  spirit  of  the  generous  donor.  We  will  now  sing 
the  first  verse  of  hymn  No.  104. 


84  Centemnal  Memorial. 

We  are  marching  on  with  shield  and  banner  bright, 
We  will  work  for  God  and  battle  for  the  right, 
We  will  praise  His  name,  rejoicing  in  His  might, 
And  we  will  work  till  Jesus  calls. 
In  the  Sunday-school  our  army  we  prepare, 
As  we  rally  round  our  blessed  standard  there, 
And  the  Saviour's  cross  we  early  learn  to  bear. 
While  we  work  till  Jesus  calls. 

Chorus. 
Then  awake,  then  awake,  happy  song,  happy  song. 
Shout  for  joy,  shout  for  joy,  as  we  gladly  march  along. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Skilling  pronounced  the  Benediction  and 
while  Mr.  Crozier  played  as  an  organ  postlude  Guilmant's 
Chorus  in  D  Major,  the  prize  books  were  distributed  to  those 
who  had  maintained  an  unbroken  attendance  at  Sunday- 
school  during  the  year. 


MOT^DAY  EVENING, 

February  the  13th,  1891,  at  7.30  o'clock. 


Union  Communion  Service. 
On  account  of  the  violent  snow-storm  which  prevailed 
at  the  time  of  the  union  communion  service  on  Monday 
evening,  and  which  had  prevailed  throughout  the  day,  the 
audience  was  not  as  large  as  it  otherwise  would  have 
been.  Nevertheless  the  house  was  well  filled.  The  Pastors 
and  Elders  of  the  several  Presbyterian  churches  gathered  in 
the  lecture-room  prior  to  the  service.  Several  of  the  Elders 
were  detained  from  the  service  by  reason  of  illness  of 
themselves  or  of  members  of  their  family.  Before  enter- 
ing the  church,  Rev.  William  P.  Patterson  led  in  a  fervent 
prayer  for  God's  blessing  upon  the  service  of  the  evening. 
In  view  of  the  absence  of  some  of  the  Elders,  the  previous 
arrangement  for  the  distribution  of  the  emblems  was  modi- 
fied, and  it  was  arranged  that  Daniel  W.  Cox,  Dr.  Jacob 
A.  Miller,  Jacob  F.  Seller,  Gilbert  M.  McCauley,  Francis 
Jordan,  Matthew  B.  Elder,  John  M.  Stewart,  Abram  L. 
Groff,  William  S.  Shaffer,  Sr.,  William  Jones,  J.  Wallace 
Elder,  John  J.  Craig  and  John  C.  Harvey  should  distribute 
the  bread;  and  that  J.  Henry  Spicer,  Thomas  J.  Miller, 
Jacob  F.  Seller,  Gilbert  M.  McCauley,  Francis  Jordan,  Mat- 
thew B.  Elder,  John  M.  Stewart,  Abram  L.  GrofF,  AVilliam 
S.  ShafTer,  Sr.,  Samuel  H.  Garland,  David  R.  Elder,  Alex- 
ander Adams  and  John  C.  Harvey  should  distribute  the 
wine. 


86  Centennial  Memorial. 

After  the  Ministers  and  Elders  had  taken  their  places  at 
the  Communion  Table,  Mr.  Crozier  played  as  an  organ 
prelude  the  final  chorus  from  the  passion  music  according 
to  St.  Matthew,  composed  by  Bach.  The  choir  sang  with 
feeling  and  finish  Dudley  Buck's  setting  of  John  Henry 
Newman's  "  Lead,  Kindly  Light."  The  invocation  by  Rev. 
Reuben  H.  Armstrong,  Pastor  of  the  Elder  Street  Church, 
followed.  The  Rev.  Albert  B.  Williamson,  Pastor  of  the 
Paxtang  Church,  announced   hymn  No.  696,  verses  1,  2,  6. 

Not  worthy,  Lord  !  to  gather  up  the  crumbs 
With  trembling  hand  that  from  thy  table  fall, 

A  weary,  heavy-laden  sinner  comes 

To  plead  thy  promise  and  obey  thy  call. 

I  am  not  worthy  to  be  thought  thy  child, 
Nor  sit  the  last  and  lowest  at  thy  board ; 

Too  long  a  wanderer  and  too  oft  beguiled, 
I  only  ask  one  reconciling  word. 

My  praise  can  only  breathe  itself  in  prayer, 
My  prayer  can  only  lose  itself  in  thee  ; 

Dwell  thou  forever  in  my  heart,  and  there, 
Lord  I  let  me  sup  with  thee  ;  sup  thou  with  me. 

Rev.  David  M.  Skilling,  Pastor's  Assistant  in  Market 
Square  Church,  read  as  the  Scripture  lesson  the  first  chapter 
of  Ephesians. 

The  Rev.  George  S.  Chambers,  D.  D.,  Pastor  of  the  Pine 
Street  Church,  delivered  the  Communion  address. 


COMMUNION  ADDRESS. 


By  Rev.  George  S.  Chambers,  D.  D. 


In  a  very  special  sense,  the  communion  service  which 
has  brought  us  to  the  house  of  God  this  evening  is  a 
memorial  service.  It  is  a  feast  of  memory  ;  the  memory 
of  Christ,  and  the  memor}^  of  service  for  Christ  by  gener- 
ations of  His  faithful  disciples. 

Primarily  and  pre-eminently  do  the  great  facts  of  our 
Lord's  love  and  death  for  us  come  before  our  minds. 
Neither  the  tender  memories  of  departed  friends  with 
whom  we  have  taken  sweet  counsel,  nor  the  history  of 
the  generations  of  Christians  who  preceded  them,  and  who 
laid  the  foundations  of  this  Christian  church,  and  of 
whose  piety  and  zeal,  this  week  is  a  commemoration, 
should  obscure  the  Divine  Person  ;  or  diminish  the  empha- 
sis of  the  Divine  Word  which  is  the  warrant  of  this  service 
— "  Do  this  in  remembrance  of  me."  Let  us  give  Christ 
this  pre-eminence  to-night.  And  we  can  think  of  Him  as 
the  joy  of  all  the  communion  services  of  this  church  and 
the  others  that  have  sprung  from  it,  during  all  these  years. 
Not  a  year  has  passed  in  the  century  which  this  week 
closes,  without  these  assemblies  of  Christians  around  the 
table  of  the  Lord.  Company  after  company,  representing 
all  phases  of  Christian  character  and  experience  have  thus 
met  to  magnify  his  atoning  love.  Of  them  we  may  say, 
varying   the  words  of  Paul  concerning    the   witnesses  of 


88  Centennial  Memorial. 

Christ's  resurrection — "  Some  of  them  remain  unto  this 
present,  but  the  greater  part  are  fallen  asleep." 

There  is  an  appropriateness  in  making  a  communion  ser- 
vice a  part  of  this  Centennial  celebration.  It  will  check 
an}^  tendency  to  man-worship,  into  which  we  may  uncon- 
sciously glide  as  we  discuss  the  fortitude,  and  perseverance, 
and  intelligence,  and  devotion  of  the  men  and  women 
whose  work  at  such  a  time  comes  into  review.  Moreover, 
a  communion  service  at  this  time  is  suggestive  to  us  of  the 
true  principle  of  a  church's  continuity.  There  would  have 
been,  there  could  have  been,  no  Centennial  celebration  this 
week,  had  there  been  no  communion  celebrations  during 
these  hundred  years.  The  history  of  a  church  is  practi- 
cally the  history  of  its  communion  seasons.  These  are  the 
signs  of  its  growth.  Upon  these  depends  to  a  very  consid- 
erable degree  the  development  of  individual  piety.  These 
sustain  a  very  intimate  relation  to  family  religion.  If  w^e 
can  conceive  of  a  church  without  the  observance  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  it  is  not  one  with  the  history  of  a  century. 
It  is,  on  the  contrary,  an  ephemeral  organization,  inviting 
and  hastening  its  own  decay  by  neglect  of,  or  disobedience 
to,  the  Lord's  dying  command. 

The  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  a  very  essential 
part  of  the  history  which  we  are  recalling  and  celebrating. 
It  has  constantly  reminded  believers  of  the  love  which 
founded  the  church,  it  has  been  a  badge  of  their  separation 
from  the  world,  it  has  been  a  testimony  to  the  world  of 
their  loving  loyalty  to  Christ,  it  has  been  the  means  by 
which  a  confession  of  Him  has  been  made  on  the  part  of 
those  who,  through  sanctified  family  training  and  faithful 


Address  by  Rev.  George  S.  Chambers.  89 

preaching,  have  been  brought  into  His  fold,  it  has  kept 
alive  the  faith  of  the  church  when  worldliness  has  come 
in  like  a  flood,  it  has  been  the  jubilant  expression  of 
thanksgiving  when  the  reviving  power  of  God's  Spirit 
has  swept  over  the  church.  With  its  simple  symbolical 
presentation  of  the  great  fact  of  atonement,  with  its 
prophecy  of  a  returning  Lord  towards  the  fulfillment  of 
which  every  celebration  of  it  has  been  a  step,  the  Lord's 
Supper  has  been  an  answer  to  the  question.  What  is  the 
secret  of  a  church's  life?  The  church  lives  because  Christ 
died  for  it,  and  rose  again.  Where  a  church  lovingly  holds 
to  these  facts,  and  repeatedly  confesses  them  in  the  service 
which  He  appointed,  we  may  expect  to  see  it  blessed  with  a 
continuity  of  life  and  a  constant  enlargement  of  life.  We 
can  give  a  prospective,  as  well  as  a  retrospective  character  to 
this  service.  We  can  confidently  predict  another  century  of 
history  to  this  church,  and  all  churches  that  exalt  and  con- 
fess Jesus  Christ  as  Prince  and  Saviour. 

Thus  making  Him  pre-eminent,  we  may  allow  ourselves 
to  indulge  in  the  memories  of  the  holy  men  and  women 
who  have  gone  before  us.  With  some  of  you  these  mem- 
ories are  specially  vivid  and  tender.  To  all  of  us,  of  course, 
the  knowledge  of  the  most  of  these  saints  of  God  is  a 
historical  knowledge.  We  read  of  the  Christians  of  a 
hundred  years  ago  and  their  immediate  successors,  and 
we  admire  their  faith,  and  hopefulness,  and  courage.  But 
there  is  a  knowledge  which  is  personal  and  experimental, 
of  other  g^dly  ones  who  have  been  closely  identified  with 
these  churches.  They  have  been  the  fathers  and  the 
mothers   of  some  of  you.     They  have  been  the  ministers 


90  Centennial  Memorial. 

and  the  Sunday-school  teachers  of  some  of  you.  They 
have  been  the  intimate  friends  of  some  of  you,  dearer 
to  you  even  than  your  very  hfe.  We  cannot  help  think- 
ing of  them  at  such  a  time  as  this.  If  we  believe  (and 
why  should  we  not  believe)  that  all  the  saints  who 
have  entered  glory,  during  these  hundred  years,  from  this 
church,  and  the  churches  that  have  sprung  from  it,  are 
interested  in  the  work,  and  the  worship  of  the  church  on 
earth,  then  with  what  an  interest  must  this  service  be  in- 
vested. They  are  looking  upon  us  to-night.  They  are 
nearer  to  us  than  we  think.  The  limitations  of  our  mortal 
vision  prevent  us  from  seeing  "this  cloud  of  witnesses." 
"  From  behind  the  thin  veil  which  severs  us  from  them, 
they  are  looking  down  upon  us."  Let  us  take  to  ourselves 
the  comfort  of  that  description  of  the  church  as  "  the  family 
in  heaven  and  on  earth."  Let  us  think  of  that  part  of  the 
household  which  has  entered  into  rest,  as  both  watching  us 
and  waiting  for  us. 

"O  blest  communion,  fellowship  Divine  ! 
We  feebly  struggle,  they  in  glory  shine  : 
Yet  all  are  one  in  Thee,  for  all  are  Thine. 
Alleluia." 

Coming  back  to  the  thought  with  which  I  began,  let  us 
exalt  the  Son  of  God,  our  Saviour,  in  this  service.  He  made 
atonement  for  our  sins.  Because  He  lives,  we  live  also. 
Through  Him  they  who  have  gone  before  us,  and  we  who 
follow  after,  are  one.  They  obeyed  His  dying  command,  as 
we  are  obeying  it  now.  Through  His  relation  to  them  and 
to  us  we  are  their  contemporaries,  for  He  is  not  the  God  of 


Address  by  Rev.  George  S.  Chambers.  91 

the  dead,  but  of  the  living.  This  communion  table  is  a 
place  for  memory  to  do  a  blessed  work  in  recalling  the 
achievements  and  the  fellowship  of  the  past.  It  is  a  place 
for  gratitude  that  the  Lord  has  given  us  some  work 
to  do  as  the  successors  of  such  consecrated  men  and 
women.  It  is  a  place  for  hope  as  we  contemplate  the 
greater  field  of  service  given  to  these  churches,  and  the 
greater  responsibilities  which  rest  upon  them.  It  is  a  place 
for  fellowship  as  we  express  our  interest  in  one  another, 
and  assert  our  church  brotherhood.  But  it  is  all  these  in  a 
peculiar  sense  as  we  think  of  Him  who  loved  us,  and  gave 
himself  for  us.  Our  fellowship  is  with  Him.  Our  hope 
is  in  Him.  Our  gratitude  is  to  Him.  Our  memory  is  of 
Him,as  the  words,  never  old,  always  beautiful,  fall  with 
a  new  tenderness  on  our  hearts,  "  This  do  in  remembrance 
of  me." 

At  the  conclusion  of  Dr.  Chamber's  address  he  pro- 
nounced the  words  of  institution  of  the  Supper,  and  Rev. 
William  P.  Patterson,  Pastor  of  Olivet  Church,  led  in  prayer. 
The  bread  was  then  given  by  Dr.  Chambers  to  the  elders 
appointed  for  receiving  it,  and  they  distributed  it  to  the 
people.  In  like  manner  also  the  wine  was  given  by  the 
Rev.  George  B.  Stewart,  D.  D.,  Pastor  of  the  church,  to  the 
elders  appointed  for  receiving  it,  and  they  distributed  it  to 
the  people. 

After  the  people  had  all  communed,  the  Rev.  George  S. 
Duncan,  Pastor  of  the  Westminster  Church,  led  in  the  con- 
cludmg  prayer  of  thanksgiving. 

Dr.  Chambers  announced  hymn  No.  688,  verses  1,  4,  5. 


92  Centennial  Memorial. 

Sweet  the  moments,  rich  in  blessing, 

Which  before  the  cross  I  spend, 
Life  and  health  and  peace  possessing 

From  the  sinner's  dying  Friend. 

Here  it  is  I  find  my  heaven. 

While  upon  the  Lamb  I  gaze  ; 
Love  I  much  ?    I've  much  forgiven  ; 

I'm  a  miracle  of  grace. 

Love  and  grief  my  heart  dividing, 
With  my  tears  his  feet  I  bathe ; 
Constant  still  in  faith  abiding, 
Life  deriving  from  his  death. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  hymn,  which  the  congregation 
sang  while  standing.  Dr.  Chambers  pronounced  the  Bene- 
diction. The  organ  postlude,  The  Hymn  of  the  Apostles 
from  "The  Redemption,"  by  Gounod,  concluded  the  service. 
This  service,  with  all  of  the  Ministers,  most  of  the  Elders, 
and  many  of  the  People  of  the  seven  Presbyterian  churches 
laid  beautiful  and  solemn  emphasis  upon  the  unity  of  our 
church  and  the  goodly  fellowship  of  the  saints. 


TUESDAY  EVENING, 
February  the  13th,  1894.,  at  7.30  o'clock. 


Musical  Festival. 

The  harmonies  that  filled  the  souls  of  Israel's  prophets, 
priests  and  people  with  divine  transports  are  the  same 
which  wake  "the  echoes  of  Paradise  in  the  soul"  of  God's 
people  to-day.  Never  so  much  as  now  has  the  church  made 
use  of  music.  Never  so  much  as  now  have  men  thought  of 
music  as  a  note  in  "  the  universal  concert  of  God's  love." 
Thoughts  such  as  these  were  in  the  minds  of  some,  at  least, 
of  the  great  throng  that  crowded  every  available  space  in 
the  auditorium,  vestibule,  gallery  and  rear  hall  and  stood 
in  the  snow  on  the  street  to  hear  the  musical  festival  on 
Tuesday  night. 

Promptly  at  the  hour,  Mr.  David  E.  Crozier,  the  accom- 
plished organist  of  the  church,  began  the  service  with 
Wagner's  "  Vorspiel  to  Parsifal."  As  the  last  strains  of  this 
jubilant  overture  died  away  they  mingled  with  the  first 
notes  of  Dudley  Buck's  "  Festival  Te  Deum."  The  large 
choir  of  the  church,  augmented  by  several  voices  from  the 
Pine  Street  Presbyterian  Church  choir,  sang  this  and  the 
other  anthems  of  the  evening  with  precision,  sympathj'-  and 
spirit.  The  Rev.  David  M.  Skilling,  who  presided  through- 
out the  evening,  introduced  the  Rev.  Harris  R.  Schenck, 
Pastor  of  the  Falling  Spring  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Cham- 
bersburg,  who  led  the  audience  in  prayer.  The  Rev.  James 
Fraser,  Ph.  D.,  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Spar- 


94  Centennial  Memorial. 

row's  Point,  Md.,  was  then  introduced  and  read  the  150th 
Psalm  as  the  Scripture  lesson.  Mr.  William  G.  Underwood 
took  Miss  Rachel  T.  Briggs's  place  in  the  programme  and  sang 
with  fine  expression  "  Glory  to  Thee  My  God  This  Night." 
Mozart's  "Andante  in  F"  followed  as  an  organ  interlude  by 
Mr.  Crozier.  The  choir  then  sang  "Lo!  It  is  I,"  as  adapted 
by  Shelly  to  a  chorus  by  Faure.  Miss  Reba  Bunton 
delighted  the  audience  with  her  rich  contralto  voice  in 
"Eye  Hath  Not  Seen,"  a  solo  from  Gaul's  "The  Holy  City." 
Mr.  Skilling  then  announced  hymn  No.  456,  vs.  1,  2,  4. 
The  congregation  rising  united  in  singing  this  hymn  of 
Charles  Wesley,  so  dear  to  the  fathers. 

A  charge  to  keep  I  have, 

A  God  to  glorify, 
A  never-dying  soul  to  save, 

And  fit  it  for  the  sky. 

To  serve  the  present  age. 

My  calling  to  fulfill, 
Oh,  may  it  all  my  powers  engage, 

To  do  my  Master's  will. 

Help  me  to  watch  and  pray, 

And  on  thyself  rely. 
Assured,  if  I  my  trust  betray, 

I  shall  forever  die. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  Z.  Gross  followed  wdth  a  duet, 
"Forever  With  the  Lord,"  in  which  their  voices  blended 
perfectly,  Reinberger's  "  Pastorale  from  Sonata  in  D  Flat," 
as  an  organ  solo,  and  Dudley  Buck's  "Oh,  Clap  Your 
Hands,"  as  an  anthem  by  the  choir,  followed.    ' 


Tlie  Musical  Festival.  95 

The  President  of  the  Evening.  No  anniversary,  and 
certainly  not  the  centennial,  of  this  church  could  be  com- 
plete without  a  festival  such  as  this  one  to  which  you  have 
accepted  an  invitation  this  evening. 

From  the  very  beginning  of  this  church  music  has  had 
an  important  place  in  its  worship.  During  the  hundred 
years  that  are  past  this  church  has  witnessed  and  partici- 
pated in  the  various  stages  through  which  church  music 
has  developed. 

From  the  period  ante-dating  the  introduction  of  music 
books  into  the  pews,  when  the  hymns  w^ere  ''  lined  out," 
onward  through  the  era  of  orchestral  music,  when  the 
flutes  and  violins  and  violoncellos  sounded  the  notes  for 
the  singers,  to  the  introduction  of  the  melodion  and  with 
it  the  "  Carmina  sacra  ;"  and  then  to  the  present  era  of 
congregational  singing,  led  by  a  choir  so  efficiently  directed, 
accompanied  by  the  music  so  skillfully  brought  forth  on 
the  large  organ,  and  augmented  by  the  anthems  wdiich  we 
enjoy  to-night,  this  church  has  sung  its  praise  to  the  King 
of  Glory. 

And,  therefore,  it  has  a  history  of  music  to  tell. 

It  is  fitting  that  that  history  should  be  told  at  this  time  ; 
and  it  is  especially  appropriate  that  it  be  told  by  the 
speaker  whom  it  is  my  pleasure  to  introduce  this  evening. 
The  committee  could  have  selected  no  one  better  suited  to 
the  task.  A  son  of  the  church  ;  his  father  and  brother  for 
many  years  elders  in  this  church  ;  himself  dedicated  to 
God  in  infant  baptism  at  its  altar  ;  in  early  youth  received 
into  its  communion  upon  the  public  profession  of  his  faith 
in  Christ;  a  member  of  its  choir  from   1842  to  1858;  and 


96  Centennial  Memorial. 

subsequently  for  a  number  of  years  the  director  of  music 
in  the  Pine  Street  Church,  he  comes  to  us.  I  know,  with  a 
fund  of  information  which  shall  be  not  only  interesting 
but  instructive.  I  take  pleasure  in  presenting  our  brother 
churchman,  our  fellow-citizen,  our  friend,  Mr.  H.  Murray 
Graydon ;  his  subject  is,  "  The  Hymnology  of  the  Mother 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Harrisburg,  with  Some  Reminis- 
cences of  Choirs  and  Choir  Davs." 


THE  HYMNOLOGY  OF  THE  MOTHER  PRESBYTE- 
RIAN CHURCH  OF  HARRISBURG,  WITH  SOME 
REMINISCENCES  OF  CHOIRS  AND  CHOIR  DAYS. 


By  H.  Murray  Graydon,  Esq. 


I  have  been  asked  to  prepare  a  paper  upon  the  hymnol- 
ogy  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Harrisburg  during  the 
last  hundred  years.  This  will  necessarily  involve  sketches 
and  reminiscences,  so  far  as  they  can  be  obtained,  of  the 
singers  and  choirs  who  flourished  during  that  period,  and 
led  the  congregation  in  their  Sabbath  service  of  song.  Of 
course  information  in  regard  to  the  early  part  of  the  century 
must  be  meager  in  the  extreme,  as  the  memory  of  no  living 
person  reaches  quite  that  far  back.  My  own  recollections 
of  the  music  and  musical  personages  connected  with  the 
church  extends  no  farther  than  a  year  or  two  before  the 
pulling  down  of  the  old  and  the  erection  of  the  new  edifice 
on  the  corner  of  Second  street  and  Cherr}^  alley.  But  some 
few  records  remain,  and  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  A.  Bovd 
Hamilton  and  to  a  paper  prepared  by  the  late  Alexander 
Sloan,  a  short  time  before  his  death,  for  some  facts  relating 
to  the  subject  under  consideration,  which  take  us  back  to 
the  early  part  of  the  present  century. 

It  is  said  that  John  Wyeth,  the  father  of  the  late  Francis 
Wyeth,  was  the  leader  of  the  choir  before  the  erection  of  the 
first  church  building.  About  the  year  1809,  Thomas  Smith 
became  the  leader,  and  his  choir  occupied  the  space  in  front 


98  Centennial  Memorial. 

of  the  pulpit,  there  being  as  yet  no  gallery  constructed. 
This  defect  was  remedied  about  the  year  1820,  and  the 
singers  then  took  possession  of  that  part  of  the  gallery 
which  was  allotted  to  the  choir.  James  Wright  seems  to 
have  succeeded  Mr.  Smith,  then  James  Whitehill,  and  he 
w^as  followed  by  the  late  John  A.  Weir.  Of  the  singers  of 
that  early  day,  who  led  the  praises  of  the  sanctuary,  no 
record  remains.  It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Weir  continued  to 
lead  the  choir  down  to  the  building  of  the  new  church, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  R.  J.  Fleming.  A  short 
time  before  the  year  1840  I  can  recall  a  few  names  of  those 
who  occupied  the  choir  gallery,  I  presume,  under  the  lead- 
ership of  Mr.  Weir.  These  are  Mrs.  J.  A.  Briggs,  then 
Miss  Todd,  and  Mrs.  John  J.  Pearson,  then  Miss  Mary 
Briggs,  both  of  whom  were,  I  think,  soprano  singers,  and 
Alexander  Sloan  and  Andrew  Graydon,  who  dealt  out  the 
bass. 

In  the  paper  prepared  by  Mr.  Sloan  it  is  stated  that  the 
first  regular  choir  was  organized  about  the  year  1818,  and 
that  he  became  a  member  of  it  about  that  time.  This  may 
be  the  fact,  and  the  earlier  singers  may  have  been  only 
the  skirmish  line,  or  advance  guard.  Congregational 
singing  must  have  been  at  a  low  ebb,  as  it  has  sometimes 
been  at  a  much  later  day,  for  Mr.  Hamilton  is  responsible 
for  the  statement  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Buchanan,  one  of  the 
earliest  pastors,  once  said  from  the  pulpit  that  if  the  con- 
gregation would  not  sing  he  would  not  preach. 

Mr.  Sloan  says,  in  the  paper  referred  to,  that  in  the  year 
1821  or  1822  the  first  musical  instrument  was  introduced 
in  the  shape  of  a  bassoon  played  by  a  Mr.  Holt,  a  school 


Address  by  H.  Murray  Gray  don,  Esq.  99 

teacher  of  Harrisburg.  Before  that  time  the  leader  prob- 
ably used  a  pitch  pipe  to  get  the  proper  key,  as  I  have  a 
distinct  recollection  of  seeing  an  old  wooden  instrument 
of  that  kind  in  my  childhood,  not  then  in  use,  but  kept 
as  a  relic.  It  was  regulated  by  moving  a  slide  up  and 
down  until  the  proper  pitch  was  obtained. 

In  the  month  of  February,  ]842,  the  congregation  occu- 
pied the  new  church  edifice,  and  the  choir  became  a  more 
pretentious  body.  Mr.  R.  J.  Fleming  was  then  the  leader, 
and  assistance  was  given  by  an  orchestra  composed  of  Col. 
John  Roberts,  with  his  violin ;  Alexander  Roberts,  and 
afterwards  George  B.  Ay  res,  on  the  flute  ;  and  Dr.  James 
Fleming,  with  a  violoncello.  The  flute,  if  I  remember 
aright,  took  the  soprano,  whilst  Col.  Roberts  aided  the  alto 
singers,  and  Dr.  Fleming  played  the  bass.  Mr.  Fleming, 
the  leader,  whilst  not  gifted  with  a  voice  of  much  power, 
was  thoroughly  skilled  in  the  science  of  music,  and  took 
great  pains  to  make  his  choir  proficient  in  both  musical 
science  and  art.  It  was  during  his  leadership  that  an 
Englishman,  who  happened  along  about  that  time,  was 
permitted  to  introduce  a  trombone  into  the  choir  gallery, 
and  this  materially  aided  the  bass  singers.  In  order  to 
conceal  the  instrument  from  the  congregation  below,  some 
of  whom  might  have  been  scandalized  by  its  introduction, 
a  screen  was  erected,  attached  to  the  upper  pew,  behind 
which  the  player  sat  and  performed  his  part  of  the  musical 
exercises. 

After  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Fleming,  Mr.  Silas  Ward 
became  the  leader  of  the  choir,  and  remained  in  that  posi- 
tion for  a  number  of  years.     It  was  during  his  occupancy 


100  Centennial  Memorial. 

of  the  post  that  the  first  reed  organ,  in  the  shape  of  a  small 
instrument,  then  called  a  melodeon,  was  used  to  assist  the 
choir.  After  that  the  flute  and  stringed  instruments  gradu- 
ally gave  up  the  service,  the  violoncello  lingering  the  long- 
est. No  pipe  organ  was  ever  used  in  any  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian churches  of  Harrisburg  until  after  the  separation  in 
1858,  when  first  the  Pine  Street  Church,  and  afterwards 
this  church,  introduced  the  instruments  which  are  now  in 
use.  The  original  organ  first  placed  in  the  gallery  of  Pine 
Street  Church  is  now  transferred  to  the  Sabbath-School 
room,  whilst  a  new  one  takes  its  place  in  tlie  audience 
chamber.  This  church  still  retains  the  one  first  introduced, 
the  gift  of  the  late  James  W.  Weir,  of  happy  memory.  A 
larger  reed  organ  succeeded  the  melodeon  in  the  church  on 
Second  street,  and  this  instrument  was  rescued  at  the  time 
of  the  fire,  and  is  probably  still  used  in  some  part  of  this 
building. 

After  the  congregation  moved  into  the  new  church,  in 
the  year  1842,  the  old  choir  dropped  out,  and  a  younger  set 
of  singers  occupied  their  places.  Among  these  were  Miss 
Sarah  Carson,  now  Mrs.  Wyeth;  Miss  Isabella  Tod,  now 
Mrs.  Kerr;  Miss  Lucia  Simmons,  afterwards  Mrs.  Wilson, 
now  deceased;  Miss  Susan  Ayres,  afterwards  Mrs.  Jones,  also 
deceased ;  Miss  Margaret  Carson,  Miss  Elizabeth  Boyd,  Miss 
Kate  Emerson,  the  Misses  Nancy  and  Lill  Shunk,  daugh- 
ters of  Governor  Shunk ;  Miss  Mary  E.  Graydon,  now  Mrs. 
Sharpe,  of  Indianapolis;  Miss  Susan  Mowr}',  now  Mrs. 
Fleming,  and  Miss  Eliza  Roberts,  now  Mrs.  Given.  The 
last  four  of  these  sang  alto,  whilst  the  others  were  soprano 
singers.     Among  the  bass  were  Alexander  Sloan,  who  kept 


Address  by  H.  Murray  Graydon,  Esq.  101 

his  old  place  for  a  time;  David  Fleming,  Joel  Hinckley, 
Patterson  Johnson,  Lucius  V.  Parsons,  and  after  an  absence 
of  some  years,  Alexander  Roberts.  The  tenor  singer  was 
Dr.  C.  N.  Hickok.  A  still  younger  set  were  graduall}^  in- 
troduced into  the  choir  at  a  later  day,  and  they  continued 
there  until  the  destruction  of  the  church  edifice  in  the  year 
1858.  Some  of  them  are  to-day  matrons  in  both  of  the 
large  Presbyterian  churches,  and  as  it  is  impossible  to  give 
the  names  of  all,  I  refrain  from  mentioning  any. 

But  as  this  paper  is  supposed  to  be  a  dissertation  upon 
the  hymnology  of  the  Church,  I  must  not  omit  to  notice  the 
hymn  and  music  books  in  use  in  the  church  during  the 
period  of  which  I  am  writing.  Mr.  Hamilton,  in  an  article 
recently  published,  speaks  of  a  hymn  book  called  the  "  New 
Haven  Collection,''  which  he  says  was  the  first  book  used 
by  the  congregation.  It  contained  only  seventy  hymns. 
The  first  hymn  book  which  I  remember  was  the  authorized 
version  of  psalms  and  hymns,  the  former  being  kept  sep- 
arate from  the  latter,  and  placed  first  in  the  book.  The 
combined  h3^mn  and  tune  book,  now  so  common,  was 
unheard  of  in  the  church  at  that  day,  the  music  book, 
which  was  used  only  by  the  choir,  being  an  entirely  sep- 
arate work.  It  contained  the  tunes  ordinarily  sung  to  the 
psalms  and  hymns,  and  in  the  end  of  the  book  was  gen- 
erally a  collection  of  anthems  and  set  pieces,  to  be  used  by 
the  choir  as  voluntaries.  The  first  two  music  books  which 
were  in  use  after  the  new  church  was  occupied,  were  the 
"  Boston  Academy  "  and  the  "  Carmina  Sacra."  At  a  later 
dav   the  "  Psalterv  "  and   the  "Mendelssohn"   were  intro- 


102  Centennial  Memorial. 

duced,and  a  short  time  before  the  destruction  of  the  church, 
a  new  book,  called  "  The  Harp  of  David." 

A  lady  friend  residing  in  the  West,  who  was  a  member 
of  the  choir  for  a  year  or  two,  sending  me  some  reminis- 
cences of  choir  days,  speaks  of  some  of  the  favorite  tunes 
then  in  use.  She  mentions  "  Rothwell,"  "  Cephas,"  "  Har- 
well," "  Oliphant,"  "  Lischer,"  "  Ariel,"  "  Oberlin,"  "  Ezra," 
"  Ceylon,"  the  last  three  being  copied  into  our  manuscript 
books,  not  being  found  in  any  of  our  own  collections.  And 
then  the  anthems,  with  which  the  morning  service  was 
generally  opened,  "Jerusalem  my  Happy  Home,"  "Plunged 
in  a  Gulf  of  Dark  Despair,"  "  Wake  the  Song  of  Jubilee," 
"  The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd,"  "  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that 
Labor,"  &c.,  "  I  will  wash  my  Hands  in  Lmocency,"  and 
many  others.  As  pertinent  to  my  mention  of  the  anthem 
last  named,  let  me  here  introduce  a  brief  extract  from  a 
letter  received  recently  from  George  B.  Ayres,  of  Philadel- 
phia, whose  old  flute,  played  by  him  in  the  choir  over  forty 
years  ago,  is  now  on  exhibition  in  the  adjoining  church 
parlor.  He  says  :  "  You  may  ni)tice  in  '  The  Psaltery  '  the 
anthem,  '  I  will  wash  my  Hands  in  Innocency,'  has  two 
passages  (in  small  notes)  for  the  instruments  alone.  Well,  I 
remember  what  a  magnificent  thing  our  people  used  to 
think  that  was — when  the  instruments  played  those  pas- 
sages !     I  suppose  you  recognize  the  bass  part." 

We  seldom  hear  anthems  like  those  I  have  referred  to 
nowadays.  The  modern  voluntaries  are  generally  more 
highly  artistic,  and  relegate  those  of  a  simpler  character  to 
the  rear.  And  yet  1  may  be  permitted  to  say  that,  in  my 
judgment,  the  average  congregation,  even  in  these  days. 


Address  by  H.  Murray  Graydon,  Esq.  103 

would  appreciate  more  highly  and  enjoy  more  thoroughly 
some  of  these  old  anthems,  than  many  of  those  which  are 
"  executed  "  in  their  hearing  in  perhaps  the  majority  of  our 
Presbyterian  churches. 

I  know  of  no  hymn  book  in  use  in  the  lecture-room,  at 
the  Wednesday  evening  service,  until  after  Dr.  Robinson 
was  called  to  the  pastorate,  unless  it  was  the  one  used  in  the 
church  on  the  Sabbath.  Possibly  the  hymns  were  "  lined 
out,"  as  was  the  custom  in  early  days.  Dr.  DeWitt,  who 
had  a  fine  voice,  generally  started  the  tunes  on  Wednesday 
evening,  and  the  range  on  these  occasions  was  not  a  very 
extensive  one.  I  remember  that  on  one  occasion  a  strange 
clergyman,  who  was  conducting  the  service,  gave  out  the 
hymn  commencing  "  Now  I  resolve  with  all  my  heart;"  and 
sang  it  to  the  tune  "  Rockingham."  Dr.  DeWitt  was 
greatly  pleased  with  the  music,  which  was  then  new  to  us, 
and  from  that  time  on  we  had  it  on  nearly  every  Wednes- 
day evening.  So  surfeited  did  I  become  with  the  tune  that 
to  this  day  I  dislike  to  hear  it  sung. 

After  Dr.  Robinson  became  co-pastor  a  small  book  was 
introduced  into  the  lecture  room,  called  "  Parish  Hymns," 
which  was  used  thereafter  and  contained  many  very  good 
selections.     One  beautiful  hymn  became  a  favorite,  and  was 

*  The  records  of  the  Session  contains  the  following  item  under  date 
of  March  10,  1853,  more  than  a  year  prior  to  Dr.  Robinson's  coming  : 
"Whereas  many  members  of  the  chiu'ch  having  expressed  a  wish  that 
a  suitable  hymn  book  should  be  used  in  the  meetings  for  lecture  and 
prayer,  and  the  Session  having  examined  several  compilations  extant, 
it  was  I'esolved  unanimously  to  recommend  the  '  Parish  Hymns'  for 
the  uses  proposed." — Editor. 


104  Centennial  Memorial. 

often  sung  at  a  Saturday  evening  prayermeeting.     Its  open- 
ing verse  was : 

When  the  worn  spirit  wants  repose, 

And  sighs  her  God  to  seek, 
How  sweet  to  hail  the  evening's  close 

That  ends  the  weary  week." 

The  same  hymn  has  since  been  arranged  to  appropriate 
music  in  one  of  the  music  books,  as  a  hymn  anthem, 
though  I  have  not  heard  it  sung  for  many  years. 

These  reminiscences  must  close  with  the  year  1858.  From 
that  time  two  organized  Presbyterian  churcl:ies  existed,  and 
with  the  musical  arrangements  of  the  mother  cliurch  since 
that  day,  the  writer  is  not  familiar.  The  constituent 
elements  of  the  choir  in  Pine  Street  Church  have  varied 
greatly  in  the  passing  years,  as  have  doubtless  those  in 
this  church.  In  both  churches  the  combined  hymri  and 
tune  books  are  now  in  use,  and  there  is  less  excuse  than 
ever  for  a  neglect  of  congregational  singing.  Choirs,  too, 
have  become  more  ambitious,  and  claim  a  much  larger 
share  of  the  musical  part  of  the  service  than  did  their 
predecessors.  Within  proper  bounds,  this  is  not  perhaps  to 
be  deprecated,  especially  if  the  music  is  entirely  appro- 
priate. Possibly  too  little  account  was  made  in  days  past 
of  the  praise  element,  but  we  may  be  in  danger  of  running 
too  far  to  the  opposite  extreme,  I  confess  to  a  feeling  of 
misgiving  when  I  see  whole  programmes  published  on  a 
Saturday  evening  in  the  newspapers,  including  even  the 
names  of  the  composers  of  the  pieces  to  be  performed  by  the 
choir,  inviting  the  congregation  seemingly  to  a  concert  of 
sacred  music,  rather  than  to  a  meeting  with  the  Master  for 


The  Musical  Festival.  105 

worship,  and  the  hearing  of  his  message  from  the  pulpit. 
Let  me  be  understood  here,  as  objecting  to  the  advertising 
and  not  to  the  praise  service  itself. 

But  this  is  treading  upon  what  some  may  consider 
debatable  ground.  I  give  only  my  own  opinion.  It  is  my 
province  in  this  paper  to  narrate,  rather  than  to  moralize, 
and  I  therefore  leave  the  subject,  commending  it  to  the 
calm  reflection  of  all  Presbyterian  hearers. 

The  concluding  anthem  by  the  choir  was  Farmer's  "  Qui 
To! lis,"  this  was  followed  by  a  soprano  solo,  ''  Jerusalem," 
sung  by  Miss  Helen  Espy  with  sweetness  and  expression. 
Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Robinson  read  hymn  number  394, 
verses  one,  two  and  four,  which  the  congregation  having 
risen  sang  "  as  in  the  days  of  the  fathers,"  to  the  solemn 
majestic  tune  of  "Windham." 

A  broken  heai't,  my  God  !   my  King  ! 
Is  all  the  sacrifice  I  bring  : 
The  God  of  grace  will  ne'er  despise 
A  broken  heart  for  sacrifice. 

My  soul  lies  humbled  in  the  dust, 
And  owns  thy  dreadful  sentence  just ; 
Look  down,  O  Lord !  with  pitying  eye, 
And  save  the  soul  condemned  to  die. 

Oh,  may  thy  love  inspire  my  tongue ; 
Salvation  shall  be  all  my  song, 
And  all  my  powers  shall  join  to  bless. 
The  Loi'd,  my  sti^ength  and  righteousness. 

The  President  of  the  Evening  introduced  Rev.  Charles 
Edward  Greig,  Superintendent  of  the  xMcCall  mission  work 


]06  Centennial  Memorial. 

in  Paris,  France,  who  pronounced  the  Benediction.  After 
the  Benediction  the  audience  tarried  to  hear  the  last  of 
the  inspiring  music  of  the  night,  Lemmens'  "  Marche 
Pontificale." 

The  brevity  of  this  sketch  of  the  most  complete  and 
enjoyable  musical  festival  given  in  many  years  in  Harris- 
burg  is  justified  only  because  there  follows  another  sketch 
prepared  at  the  request  of  the  editor  by  the  Rev.  Thomas 
B.  Angell,  Rector  of  St.  Stephen's  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  who  was  an  interested  auditor,  and  who  is  most 
competent  to  write  in  a  critical  ww  of  the  evening. 


THE  MUSICAL  FESTIVAL. 


By  Rev.   Thomas  B.  Angell,   B.    D. 


In  the  address  with  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Skilling  intro- 
duced the  speaker  of  the  evening,  he  made  a  happy  refer- 
ence to  the  past  that  the  church  had  a  history  of  music 
co-eval  with  itself.  And  it  was  therefore  not  only  fitting 
but  suggestive  that  one  evening  of  the  Centennial  week 
should  be  devoted  to  a  musical  festival — suggestive  in  that 
it  indicated  the  increasing  importance  attached  to  praise  as 
an  integral  part  of  worship.  The  writer  may  perhaps  be 
allowed  to  congratulate  the  Presbyterian  Church  on  its 
increasing  perception  of  the  truth  that  there  can  be  few 
w^ays  in  which  the  higher  aspirations  of  the  spiritual  nature 
can  be  better  expressed  than  through  the  instrumentality 
of  music ;  more  especially  as  the  power  of  such  expression 
in  its  higher  forms  has  been  given  to  man  only  of  all 
created  beings. 

It  may  safely  be  asserted  that  the  time  referred  to 
by  Mr.  Graydon,  when  a  psalm  tune,  lined  out  by  the 
precentor  and  followed,  more  or  less,  by  the  congregation, 
was  all  that  was  considered  permissible,  and  when  that 
noblest  of  instruments,  the  organ,  was  looked  upon  as 
savoring  of  Romish  tendencies,  has  forever  passed.  And 
no  stronger  evidence  to  that  effect  could  have  been  brought 
forward  than  the  elaborate  and  satisfactory  musical    pro- 


108  Centennial  Memorial. 

gramme  rendered  on  this  occasion,  under  the  able  director- 
ship of  Mr.  George  R.  Fleming,  assisted  by  the  masterly 
ability  of  Mr.  David  E.  Crozier  at  the  organ. 

Were  this  notice  intended  for  temporary  purposes 
only,  it  would  be  amply  sufficient  to  print  the  programme 
and  the  names  of  those  who  assisted  in  its  rendition; 
no  other  comment  as  to  the  adequacy  of  the  production 
to  the  occasion  would  be  necessary.  But  as  it  is  under- 
stood that  this  volume  is  intended  to  be  a  reminder 
to  future  generations  of  this  week  of  rejoicing  a  more 
extended  notice  seems  to  be  called  for.  The  writer  regrets 
that  his  knowledge  is  not  sufficient  to  adequately  notice  the 
organ  work  rendered  by  Mr.  Crozier.  We  can  only  say  that 
the  selections  were  as  happy  as  their  rendering  was  satisfy- 
ing to  musical  taste,  and  it  is  safe  to  add  that  the  varied 
resources  of  the  organ  were  never  more  fully  displayed. 
The  vocal  work  was  in  the  hands  of  a  large  choir,  in  which 
Mrs.  E.  Z.  Gross,  Miss  Helen  Espy,  Miss  lleba  Bunton,  Mr. 
George  R.  Fleming,  Mr.  E.Z.  Gross,  and  Mr.  W.  G.  Underwood 
ably  sustained  the  solo  parts.  The  opening  number,  Dudley 
Buck's  well-known  Festival  "  Te  Deum,"  probably  the  most 
satisfactory  piece  of  sacred  music  written  by  this  com- 
poser, was  admirably  rendered.  Clearness  of  enunciation, 
accuracy  of  attack,  and  pleasing  blending  of  parts  testified 
to  careful  work  and  to  Mr.  Fleming's  able  leadership. 
Were  any  criticism  to  be  made,  it  might  perhaps  be 
said  that  the  time  taken  was  somewhat  too  slow.  In 
the  absence  of  Miss  Briggs,  Mr.  W.  G.  Underwood  sang 
admirably,  "  Glory  to  thee  my  God  this  Night,"  a  selection 
well  calculated  to  display  the  power  of  the  lower  range  of 


Sketch  by  Rev.   Thoraas  B.  AngelL  109 

his  voice.  This  was  followed  by  an  organ  solo,  Mozart's 
well  known  Andante  in  F,  most  satisfactorily  rendered  by 
Mr.  Crozier.  The  anthem,  "  Lo  !  it  is  I,"  by  Faure-Shelly, 
displayed  the  good  training  of  the  choir  in  being  able  to 
lend  interest  to  a  somewhat  uninviting  piece  of  writing. 
Miss  Bunton  then  sang  the  contralto  solo  from  Gaul's  Can- 
tata, The  Holy  City,  "  Eye  hath  not  seen,"  &c.,  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  bits  of  devotional  musical  writing  which  these 
later  years  have  produced.  While  not  tuneful — as  alas  ! 
some  people  after  a  long  training  in  the  meretricious  music 
of  Gospel  hymns,  and  so  forth,  reckon  tune — its  majestic  mel- 
ody adequately  mirrored  the  magnificent  words  to  which  it 
was  wedded  and  no  higher  praise  can  be  given  than  that. 
Miss  Bunton's  rendering  was  worthy  of  the  music,  which 
gave  large  opportunity  for  the  display  of  a  contralto  voice, 
most  unusual  in  its  range  and  power,  and  specially  fitted 
for  the  impressiveness  of  oratorio  music.  It  was  said  in  a 
metropolitan  paper  a  few  days  ago  that  while  nature 
afforded  ample  supply  of  soprano  and  bass  voices,  and  was 
not  niggardly  in  tenors,  it  was  rarely  indeed  that  she  pro- 
vided contraltos.  Our  city  is  to  be  congratulated  on  having 
one  of  the  rare  voices  within  its  limits,  and  the  choir  of 
Market  Square  Church  on  being  able  to  number  it  among 
its  musical  resources.  The  duet,  "  Forever  witli  the  Lord," 
was  sung  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gross  with  that  mutual  sympathy 
and  tender  feeling  which  gives  such  a  charm  to  their  work 
in  duet  singing.  The  choir  fully  sustained  their  previous 
efforts  in  their  rendering  of  the  anthems,  "  0,  Clap  Your 
Hands,"  by  Buck,  and  "  Qui  Tollis,"  by  Farmer.  Both  of 
these  selections  were   of  that  florid   style,  always  popular. 


110  Centennial  Memorial. 

but  with  which  the  writer  has  to  confess  a  certain  want  of 
sympathy.  They  are  apparently  composed  with  the  main 
idea  of  showing  off  the  agility  of  the  human  voice,  the  senti- 
ment of  the  words  being  a  minor  consideration.  The  exe- 
cution of  them  by  the  choir  was,  however,  exceedingly  good, 
though  the  substitution  of  English  words  in  the  latter  anthem 
for  the  Latin,  for  which  the  music  was  written,  detracted 
somewhat  from  the  effect.  A  special  mention  is  due  to  the 
solo  "  Jerusalem"  sung  by  Miss  Helen  Espy.  Suited  as  it 
was  in  every  way  to  the  capabilities  of  her  voice,  Miss  Espy 
rendered  it  w'ith  admirable  purity  and  force  of  tone,  together 
with  a  warmth  and  justness  of  expression  that  made  it  excep- 
tionally pleasing  to  the  hearers.  To  Mr.  George  R.  Fleming 
great  credit  is  due  for  his  admirable  conducting,  as  well  as 
for  the  aid  which  his  strong,  yet  pleasing  tenor,  afforded  to 
the  choir  in  the  concerted  work.  To  the  writer  not  the  least 
satisfactory  part  of  the  programme  was  the  closing  congrega- 
tional hymn.  A  Presbyterian  lady  informed  him  that  it  was 
among  her  earliest  recollections  as  having  always  been  sung 
on  the  occasions  of  the  administration  of  the  communion. 
The  air  w^as  evidently  based  on  one  of  the  Gregorian  tones, 
and  it  is  w^orthj^  of  remark  that  the  old  favorites,  "Olmutz" 
and  "Hamburg,"  composed  by  Lowell  Mason,  were  both 
adaptations  from  Gregorian  music,  the  former  being  an 
arrangement  of  the  eighth  tone.  It  is  pleasant  to  feel  that 
in  music,  as  in  creed,  the  Christian  church  of  to-day  is 
linked  with  the  long  distant  past. 

Mr.   Graydon's    paper    of    reminiscences   detailing    the 
various  stages  of  progress  and    change  through  which  the 


Sketch  by  Rev.   Thomas  B.  Angell.  Ill 

music  of  the  congregation  has  passed  in  the  last  century 
was  both  interesting  and  appropriate. 

In  every  way  this  evening  of  melody  was  a  worthy  and 
fitting  contribution  to  the  varied  features  of  this  centennial 
celebration.  That  it  was  appreciated  was  testified  by  the 
presence  of  a  congregation  that  taxed  the  utmost  resources 
of  the  church. 


SOME  ADDITIONAL  REMINISCENCES. 


By  the  Editor. 


Mr.  H.  Murray  Graydon's  excellent  paper  upon  the 
hymnology  of  the  mother  Presbyterian  church  of  Harris- 
burg  revived  memories  in  the  minds  of  many  in  the 
congregation  These  reminiscences  have  been  gathered  by 
the  Editor  into  the  following  article  : 

There  is  a  significant  coincidence  in  the  organization  of 
the  first  choir  in  the  same  year  that  Dr.  DeWitt  began  his 
ministry.  It  was  probably  one  of  the  first  fruits  of  his 
ministry. 

From  that  time  to  the  present  there  is  no  intimation  in 
the  testimony  of  persons  or  of  records  that  the  music  of 
the  sanctuary  has  been  neglected.  On  the  contrary,  pastor 
and  people  have  made  every  effort  to  make  the  music  an 
edifying  part  of  the  worship  on  the  Lord's  day  and  at  week 
day  services.  A  former  member  recalls  that  somewhere  in 
the  twenties  Mr.  Joel  Harmon,  an  itinerant  music  teacher 
formed  a  class  for  "  the  study  of  music  and  improvement  in 
the  art  of  singing"  which  met  weekly.  Many  of  our  singers 
were  in  the  class,  and  its  meetings  were  frequently  held  in 
our  church.  Each  member  brought  a  tallow  candle  to  sup- 
ply light.  Mr.  Harmon  would  make  his  lighted  candle 
serve  as  a  baton  as  well.  The  coat  and  hand  bespattered 
with  melted  tallow  gave  evidence  to  his  energetic  efforts  in 
bringing  his  pupils  to  time  and  expression. 


Some  Additional  Reminiscences.  113 

Another  former  member  was  reminded  by  Mr.  Graydon's 
reference  to  Dr.  DeWitt's  custom  of  "  raising  the  tune  "  at 
the  week-day  service,  of  an  occasional  slip.  He  would  hum 
over  to  himself  the  first  two  lines  of  the  tune,  and  then  start 
the  hymn,  unconsciously  joining  the  first  line  of  the  hymn 
to  the  third  line  of  the  tune,  much  to  the  merriment  of 
herself  and  her  young  companions. 

To  the  early  singers  mentioned  by  Mr.  Graydon,  there 
ought  to  be  added  the  names  of  Misses  Rose  and  May 
Wright,  neices  of  Major  Forster,  afterwards  Mrs.  Samuel  and 
Henry  Cross,  Miss  Ellen  Gray  don,  afterwards  Mrs.  White- 
hill,  Miss  Theodosia  Graydon,  afterward  Mrs.  Joel  Hinck- 
ley, Miss  Margaret  C.  Berryhill,  afterwards  Mrs.  Geo.  P. 
Wiestling,  Miss  Martha  S.  Ingram  (Mrs.  William  Dick 
Boas,)  Miss  Isabel  Sloan,  Miss  Margaret  Hays,  Mrs.  John  A. 
Weir,  nee  Miss  Catharine  E.  Wiestling,  Messrs.  Andrew 
Gra3'don,  Samuel  Cross  and  Geo.  P.  Wiestling.  Many  of 
these  had  voices  worthy  of  more  than  passing  notice, 
especially  Geo.  P.  Wiestling  and  his  sister,  Mrs.  John  A. 
Weir,  whose  voices  combined  unusual  sweetness  and 
strength.  A  former  member  writes :  "  The  memorv  of 
Mrs.  Weir's  voice,  its  wonderful  sweetness,  strength,  range, 
rare  pathos,  and  power  to  sway  the  feelings  of  her  hearers, 
still  lingers  in  the  minds  of  her  cotemporaries.  Often  has 
m}^  fatlier,  returning  home  from  trips  to  different  parts  of 
the  State,  told  us  about  some  one  asking  if  that  voice  were 
still  in  our  choir." 

In  addition  to  those  mentioned  by  Mr.  Graydon  as  sing- 
ing at  a  later  period  were  Miss  Elizabeth  Boyd,  Miss  Frazer, 
Miss  Josephine  Smith,  Mr.   Lucius  V.  Parsons,  Mr.  David 


114  Centennial  Memorial. 

Fleming  and  Dr.  James  Fleming.  Special  mention  is  due 
the  Fleming  brothers.  Mr.  R.  Jackson  Fleming  was  for  a 
period  of  fourteen  years  leader  of  the  choir,  and  for  many- 
years  his  two  brothers,  David  and  James,  were  acceptable 
members  of  it.  It  is  notable  that  in  later  days  the  three 
sons  of  Mr.  David  Fleming,  and  one  daughter,  Charles 
M.,  David,  Jr.,  George  R.  and  Sara,  now  Mrs.  Joshua  W. 
Sharpe,  have  been  prominently  identified  with  the  music 
of  the  church. 

The  thirties  and  forties  were  delightful  choir  days.  The 
rehearsals  were  held  on  Friday  evenings,  and  the  whole 
evening  was  given  up  to  it.  Such  prominence  did  choir 
practice  have  in  the  social  life  of  the  then  village  that 
parties  were  never  given  on  choir  night,  friends  were  invited 
to  the  practice,  and  it  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  delightful 
events  of  the  week.  About  this  period  it  was  the  custom  for 
our  choir  and  that  of  the  Reformed  Salem  Church,  then 
under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Geo.  P.  Wiestling,  to  visit  each 
other  in  a  body  once  a  month  for  social  and  musical  enjoy- 
ment. 

From  time  to  time  new  voices  appeared  among  those  with 
which  the  congregation  had  become  familiar.  Among  those 
who  sang  about  the  middle  of  the  century  referred  to  by 
Mr.  Graydon,  ought  to  be  included  Miss  Mary  J.  Partch  and 
Mr.  Saxton,  both  of  whom  had  voices  of  remarkable  sweet- 
ness and  power  of  expression;  Miss  Kate  Doll,  afterwards 
Mrs.  Dr.  Harris;  Miss  Esther  Doll,  afterward  Mrs.  Bradshaw, 
"  whose  voice  will  never  be  forgotten  by  the  congregation  of 
that  day;"  Miss  Jeanette  Street,  afterwards  Mrs.  James 
Fleming,  and  Mr.  Peter  K.  Boyd.     In  these  days  the  choir 


Some  Addiiional  Reminiscences.  115 

was  large  and  popular.  Mr.  George  B.  Ayres  and  others 
testify  that  "it  was  the  best  choir  in  town,  as  a  whole,"  and 
that  its  reputation  extended  throughout  the  State. 

Mr.  Graydon's  reminiscences  ended  with  the  year  1858. 
During  these  last  thirty-five  years  the  choir  has  maintained 
the  high  standard  of  early  days.  The  disturbed  conditions 
of  life  of  the  sixties,  the  presence  of  soldiers,  the  military 
hospitals,  the  tide  of  war  rolling  to  our  very  doors,  inter- 
fered seriously  with  the  church  life  of  that  period.  It  was 
almost  impossible  to  have  choir  practice.  One  of  the  choir 
of  those  days  sa3's,  "  Frequently  did  we  have  to  hurry  so 
rapidly  from  hospital  to  church  that  we  hardly  had  breath 
enough  to  sing  the  first  hymn."  From  1850  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century  Mr.  Silas  Ward  was  closely  identified  with  the 
choir.  His  ability  as  a  conductor,  his  fine  tenor  voice  and 
his  great  enthusiasm  as  a  musician  were  of  invaluable 
service  to  the  music  of  the  church. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  a  complete  list  of  all  who  have 
been  in  the  choir  since  the  erection  of  the  present  church 
building.  During  this  period  there  appear  in  this  company 
the  names  of  Miss  Sibyl  Fahnestock,  now  Mrs.  Thomas  H. 
Hubbard ;  Miss  Ellen  J.  Weir,  Miss  Rachel  T.  Briggs,  Miss 
Maggie  Barnitz,  Miss  Annie  Roberts,  now  Mrs.  Purvis ; 
Miss  Kate  Roberts,  now  Mrs.  Lowell ;  Miss  Ellen  Roberts, 
afterwards  Mrs.  Kelker;  Miss  Elizabeth  McCormick,  now 
Mrs.  Phillips;  Miss  Belle  Briggs,  afterward  Mrs.  Blaikie;  Miss 
Carrie  Hickok,  now  Mrs.  Schell ;  Miss  Sibyl  M.  Weir,  Miss 
Nellie  Fleming,  now  Mrs.  Bruner  ;  Miss  Alice  Westbrook, 
now  Mrs.  Eager ;  Miss  ]\Iary  Detweiler,  now  Mrs.  Quickel ; 
Miss  Sara  Fleming,  now  Mrs.  Sharpe ;   Miss  Carrie  Porter, 


116  Centennial  Memorial 

now  Mrs.  Shotwell;  Miss  Annie  M.  Robinson,  Louis  Fahne- 
stock,  Wallace  W.  Falmestock,  James  W.  Weir,  Jr.,  Dr. 
Cherrick  Westbrook,  Jr.,  Henry  F.  Quickel,  Charles  M. 
Fleming,  Melancthon  S.  Shotwell,  George  W.  Boyd, 
William  R.  Fleming,  Luther  R.  Kelker,  William  A.  Robin- 
son,. John  W.  Reily,  John  Porter. 

Mr.  Charles  M.  Fleming,  whose  sweet,  rich  tenor  won  for 
him  a  wide  reputation  during  his  college  days  as  a  member 
of  the  Princeton  University  quartette,  became  the  leader  of 
the  choir  upon  his  return  from  college  in  1875,  and  remained 
in  that  capacity  until  his  death  in  1883.  The  choir  was 
without  an  authorized  leader  for  some  time,  though  his 
brother,  George  R.  Fleming,  by  common  consent,  was  recog- 
nized as  the  leader.  On  March  21st,  1887,  he  was  elected  by 
the  Session  to  that  position  and  still  fills  it  with  great 
acceptance. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  some  families  have  been  identi- 
fied with  the  music  of  the  church  through  a  long  period  of 
years.  Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  two  genera- 
tions of  Fleming  brothers.  Besides  these  are  the  three  Doll 
sisters,  Miss  Kate  Doll  (Mrs.  Harris),  Miss  Esther  Doll  (Mrs. 
Bradshaw),  Miss  Sarah  Doll  (Mrs.  McCauley),  the  latter 
being  a  member  of  the  present  choir.  There  have  been 
three  generations  of  the  Roberts  family,  Col.  -James  Roberts 
and  his  children,  Mrs.  Kelker,  Mrs.  Purvis,  Mrs.  Lowell, 
Mrs.  Given  and  Alexander,  and  the  children  of  the  two 
latter,  Alexander,  Jr.,  George,  John  B.  and  James  Roberts, 
and  Misses  Elizabeth  and  Louisa  Given.  Two  generations 
of  the  Weirs  have  been  in  the  choir,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  A. 
Weir,  Miss  Ellen  J.,  James  W.,  Jr.,  and  Miss  Sibyl  M.  Weir 


Some  Additional  Reminiscences.  Ill 

and  of  the  Briggs  family,  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Briggs,  Miss  Belle 
(Mrs.  Blaikie)  and  Miss  Rachel  Briggs,  and  of  Dr.  James 
Fleming's,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  James  Fleming,  Miss  Nellie  (Mrs. 
Bruner)  and  William  R.  Fleming. 

The  present  choir  is  published  in  the  Appendix  to  this 
volume  among  the  present  organizations  of  the  church.  It 
is  only  needful  to  call  attention  to  the  rare  musical  festival 
of  Centennial  Week  to  emphasize  the  high  class  work  done 
by  this  volunteer  choir.  This  choir,  by  its  occasional  praise 
services  on  Sunday  evenings,  has  done  much  to  magnify 
the  place  music  has  in  the  service  of  the  sanctuary.  These 
services  were  first  introduced  into  the  city  by  this  church 
several  years  ago,  and  our  example  has  been  generally  fol- 
lowed by  the  other  churches. 

Musical  Instruments. — As  full  and  accurate  an  account 
of  the  various  musical  instruments  in  use  prior  to  the  first 
reed  instrument,  as  it  is  possible  at  this  date,  is  given  in  Mr. 
Graydon's  paper.  He  very  correctly  says  that  Mr.  Silas 
Ward  introduced  the  first  reed  organ  about  1850.  It  was  a 
small  affair,  being  what  is  called  a  melodeon.  This  was 
shortly  followed  by  a  large  reed  organ  of  unusual  size  and 
superior  quality.  It  must  have  been  a  remarkably  well 
made  instrument  as  it  has  been  in  use  for  at  least  forty  years 
and  is  still  doing  duty  in  the  lecture-room.  It  was  rescued 
from  the  fire  in  1858,  and  continued  to  serve  in  the  public 
worship  of  the  Lord's  day  until  1872.  During  nearly  all 
these  years,  from  1850  to  1872,  Mrs.  Isabella  S.  Kerr,  was 
organist.  Miss  Sibyl  Fahnestock  (Mrs.  Hubbard)  and 
Miss  Mary  Nutting  (Mrs.  Wallace  W.  Fahnestock)  also 
served  acceptably  in  this  capacity. 


118  Centennial  Memorial. 

This  organ  gave  place  in  the  latter  year  to  the  large  Hook 
&  Hastings  pipe  organ  given  by  Mr.  James  W.  Weir  in 
memory  of  his  beloved  wife.  This  organ  is  still  in  use,  and 
for  sweetness,  richness  and  power  is  not  surpassed  by  any  in 
this  portion  of  the  State.  This  organ  has  twenty-six  stops, 
eleven  hundred  and  eighty-three  pipes,  five  mechanical 
registers,  and  four  pedal  movements.  The  case  is  black 
walnut,  the  pipes  are  silvered,  with  gold  mouths,  and  its 
general  design  is  made  to  correspond  with  that  of  the  pulpit 
which  it  fronts.  The  silver  plate  on  the  front  of  the  organ 
bears  the  following  inscription :  "  Presented  by  Mr.  James 
W,  Weir,  a  memorial  of  his  wife,  Mrs.  Hanna  A.  Weir, 
who  died  February  12th,  1872." 

On  September  25th,  1872,  the  new  organ  was  dedicated 
with  an  elaborate  recital.  Mr.  John  Zundel,  organist  in 
Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher's  church,  Brooklyn,  together 
with  Mr.  Thomas  Winn,  who  had  just  been  elected  organ- 
ist, gave  the  large  audience  gathered  for  the  occasion  an 
exhibition  of  the  many  excellencies  of  the  new  instrument. 
The  church  choir  sang  several  anthems  and  led  the  con- 
gregation in  "Coronation,"  "Avison,"  "Mendon"  and  "Old 
Hundred."  The  soloists  of  the  evening  were  Miss  Rachel 
T.  Briggs  and  Miss  Maggie  Barnitz.  Mr.  Silas  Ward  was 
the  leader. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  while  the  church  had,  up  to 
this  time,  been  decorated  with  flowers  at  weddings  and  on 
other  week  day  occasions,  it  was  not  until  the  first  Sunday 
the  new  organ  was  used  that  flowers  were  placed  about  the 
pulpit  on  the  Lord's  Day.  The  custom  then  inaugurated 
has  been  happil}'  continued  until  the  present. 


Some  Additional  Reminiscences.  119 

From  1872  to  1879  Mr.  AVinn,  xMr.  Charles  H.  Small,  Miss 
Ellen  A.  Walker,  served  as  organists.  On  Januar}'  1st,  1879, 
Mr.  Henry  F.  Quickel  was  selected  as  organist  and  con- 
tinued to  serve  in  that  capacity  until  April,  188G.  For 
several  months  Miss  Sara  E.  Chayne,  and  Mrs.  David 
Fleming,  Jr.,  took  charge  of  the  instrument.  Mr.  David 
Edgar  Crozier,  the  present  accomplished  organist,  began 
his  duties  on  the  last  Sunday  in  November,  1886. 

The  reed  organ  in  use  in  the  Senior  department  was  a 
gift,  at  the  dedication  of  the  present  Sunday-school  in 
1883,  from  the  Superintendent,  Mr.  Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell, 
a  memorial  of  his  son,  Wallace  A.  McCarrell,  who  departed 
this  life,  December  16th,  1880. 

The  reed  organ  in  the  Intermediate  room  was  the  gift  of 
Mrs.  David  Fleming,  in  1891.  The  piano  in  the  Primary 
room  was  secured  by  the  officers  of  that  department  and 
the  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor,  in 
March,  1890.  The  reed  organ  used  in  the  parlor  was  pre- 
sented by  Mr.  James  W.  Weir  many  years  ago. 

Special  reference  must  be  made  to  the  valuable  services 
of  Mrs.  Isabella  S.  Kerr.  For  nearly  fifty  years  Mrs.  Kerr 
has  been  identified  with  the  music  of  the  church.  Her  fine 
musical  ability,  her  abiding  interest  and  untiring  devotion 
to  everything  pertaining  to  our  musical  affairs,  her  aptitude 
to  fill  any  place  and  meet  any  emergency  made  her  indis- 
pensable. Not  only  did  she  serve  in  the  public  worship 
of  the  sanctuary,  as  has  already  been  mentioned,  but  for 
many  years  she  played  the  organ  and  led  the  singing  in 
the  lecture  room,  and  had  charge  of  the  music  in  the  Senior 
department   of    the    Sunday-school.      When    the   present 


120  Centennial  Memorial. 

Pastor  arrived  in  Harrisburg,  she  introduced  herself  as 
"  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Music,  Flowers  and 
Dirt."  Her  unremitting  attention  to  the  cleanliness  of  the 
sanctuary,  her  love  for  flowers  and  diligent  care  to  have 
them  each  week  for  many  years  about  the  pulpit,  her 
personal  connection  with  the  music  as  singer,  organist 
and  director,  justify  this  rather  unique  and  suggestive  title. 

Music  and  Hymn  Books. — Mr.  Graydon  has  given  all  the 
facts  obtainable  touching  the  music  books  used  by  the  choir 
prior  to  the  introduction  of  the  modern  combined  hymn 
and  tune  books. 

On  October  22d,  1834,  the  Session  resolved  to  recommend 
to  the  "  congregation  to  adopt  in  their  public  worship  the 
Psalms  and  Hymns,  comprised  in  the  selection  authorized 
and  recommended  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  and  that  if  there  be  no  objection  made  by 
the  congregation  to  their  adoption  they  be  introduced  the 
first  Sabbath  of  December  next."  There  seems  to  have  been 
no  objection  offered,  for  this  collection  came  into  use  and 
continued  to  be  the  hymn  book  for  use  in  public  worship 
until  1859.  This  collection  was  a  revision  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  General  Assembly  Committee,  of  a  previously 
existing  collection  of  Psalms  and  Hymns  by  Dr.  Isaac 
Watts,  and  it  took  the  place  of  the  early  edition  in  the  wor- 
ship in  our  congregation.  The  earlier  collection  gave  more 
prominence  to  the  Psalms  than  to  the  hymns.  Its  hymns 
were  arranged  in  three  books,  those  "  collected  from  the 
Scripture,"  one  hundred  and  fifty  hymns,  those  "  composed 
on  divine  subjects,"  one  hundred  and  seventy,  and  those 


Some  Additional  Reminiscences.  121 

"  prepared  for  the  Lord's  Supper,"  forty-five,  a  total  of  three 
hundred  and  sixty-five  hymns. 

How  long  this  collection  was  in  use  in  the  congregation 
prior  to  1834  is  not  known ;  but  there  is  every  reason  for 
supposing  that  it  was  the  first  hymn  book  used  by  the  con- 
gregation. The  collection  adopted  in  1834  shows  the 
tendency  to  an  increasing  use  of  hymns.  There  are  fewer 
Psalms  and  more  hymns.  It  was  a  thorough  revision  of 
the  earlier  book,  especially  in  the  section  devoted  to  the 
hymns.  Old  hymns  were  omitted,  new  ones  inserted,  and 
the  arrangement  was  more  convenient,  as  the  hymns  were 
consecutively  numbered.  There  were  five  hundred  and 
thirty-one  hymns,  most,  but  not  all  of  them,  from  the 
famous  Dr.  Watts.  Doddridge,  Montgomery,  ]\Irs.  Steele, 
Newton,  Beddome,  Heber,  Cowper,  Toplady,  Fawcett,  and 
noticeably  Wesley  are  among  the  h3'mn- writers,  whose  pro- 
ductions the  congregation  began  to  sing  in  1834. 

This  collection  continued  in  use  until  1859.  About  this 
date,  possibly  in  October  of  that  year,  the  "  Church  Psalm- 
ist "  was  adopted.  This  was  a  collection  which  had  been 
published  for  several  years  as  a  private  enterprise,  and 
which  was  purchased  by  the  new  school  General  Assembly 
in  1857  and  commended  to  the  churches.  The  Psalms  and 
hymns  are  still  bound  separately;  there  is  a  more  systematic 
arrangement  of  the  h3anns;  the  hymns  number  eight  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight  and  are  drawn  from  a  wider  range  of 
authors. 

In  November,  1874,  Mrs.  Eliza  E.  Haldeman,  of  precious 
memory,  presented  the  church  with  over  five  hundred 
copies  of  the  then  new  "  Presbyterian  Hymnal,"  which  still 


122  Centennial  Memorial. 

continues  to  be  the  book  used  in  public  worship.  This 
book  is  a  radical  departure  from  those  in  previous  use  in 
several  respects.  The  Psalms  and  hymns  are  no  longer 
kept  apart,  but  are  so  mingled  and  undesignated  that  they 
cannot  be  distinguished  from  each  other  except  by  those 
familiar  with  the  Psalms.  The  tendency  to  lessen  the  num- 
ber of  Psalms  and  increase  the  hymns  has  gained  percepti- 
bly since  the  earlier  collections.  In  one  thousand  and  six 
songs,  probably  not  one  in  twenty  could  properly  be  called 
a  version  of  a  Psalm.  The  greatest  change  and  the  best  is 
in  the  combination  of  tunes  and  words  in  the  same  book. 
This  collection,  while  not  ideal,  was  a  great  improvement 
over  any  other  used  by  the  congregation.  This  was  the 
first  time  that  the  church  had  owned  her  hymn-books,  and 
it  was  necessary  that  some  provision  be  made  in  the  pews 
for  receiving  them.  Mr.  William  0.  Hickok  generj3usly 
placed,  at  his  own  expense,  racks  in  the  pews  for  this  pur- 
pose. 

The  records  of  the  Session  show  that  on  March  10th,  1853, 
"  Parish  Hymns  "  was  adopted  for  use  in  the  lecture  and 
prayermeeting.  This  subsequently  gave  place  to  the 
"  Social  Hymn  and  Tune  Book ;"  which,  in  turn,  was 
succeeded  by  "  Hymns  and  Songs  of  Praise  "  edited  by  Drs. 
Hitchcock,  Eddy  and  Schaff.  This  is  the  book  now  in  use. 
A  new  edition  of  this  book  by  Drs.  Hitchcock,  Eddy  and 
Mudge,  is  in  use  in  the  public  services  at  Calvary  Chapel. 

Before  1856  "Union  Hymns,"  a  collection  of  five  hundred 
hymns  published  by  the  American  Sunday-School  Union 
was  in  use  in  the  Sunday-school.  There  is  no  record  of  its 
adoption.      In    1856   it    gave    place    to    "Sunday-School 


Some  Additional  Reminiscences.  123 

Hymns,"  compiled  for  the  American  Sunday-School  Union 
by  Mr.  James  W.  Weir.  There  were  three  hundred  and 
seventy-three  hymns  in  this  collection,  many  of  them 
having  been  written  by  Mr.  Weir.  In  later  years  there  has 
been  a  great  variety  of  Sunday-school  music  books  in  use. 
Every  collection  that  had  any  merit,  and  some  which  had 
none,  being  adopted  as  it  appeared.  The  present  collection 
is  "  Winnowed  Songs  for  Sunday-Schools,"  by  Ira  D.  Sankey. 

The  Intermediate  department  has  used  two  compilations 
of  hymns  selected  by  some  of  the  musical  people  in  the 
church  and  printed  exclusively  for  use  in  this  department. 
The  last  collection  was  made  several  years  ago,  and  the 
expense  of  its  publication  was  generously  borne  by  Mrs. 
Eliza  E.  Haldeman. 

This  sketch,  brief  as  it  is,  together  with  Mr.  Graydon's, 
makes  evident  that  the  mother  Presbyterian  church  of 
Harrisburg  has  had  a  history  written  in  song  and  music, 
a  history  which  reveals  the  high  musical  culture  of  its 
people  and  their  sense  of  the  important  part  music  bears 
in  the  worship  of  God. 


WEDNESDAY  EYENING, 
February  the  l^th,  1894.,  ai  '^■30  o'clock 


The  Presbyterian  Churches  of  Harrisburg. 

The  Centennial  committee  appreciating  the  fact  that  their 
church  is  only  one  of  the  Presbyterian  churches  in  the  cit}', 
and  believing  that  the  centenary  of  the  mother  would  not 
be  complete  without  a  large  recognition  of  her  mother  and 
her  children,  arranged  for  this  evening  to  be  devoted  to  the 
past  history  and  the  present  condition  of  the  several  Pres- 
byterian churches  which  sustain  these  relations  to  her. 

The  Rev.  William  A.  West,  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Carlisle,  now  in  charge  of  the  Robert  Kennedy 
Memorial  Presbyterian  Church  at  Welsh  Run,  and  for  many 
years  the  pastor  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  of 
this  city,  was  invited  to  preside  on  this  occasion.  Mr.  West 
is  greatly  revered  by  this  congregation,  and  his  long  resi- 
dence as  one  of  the  pastors  in  this  city  made  this  selection 
eminently  fitting.  The  service  began  with  an  organ  pre- 
lude, Guilmant's  "  Marche  Religieuse."  In  place  of  Dudley 
Buck's  ''Hark,  Hark,  My  Soul,"  which  had  been  an- 
nounced for  this  evening,  the  choir  sang  "Holy  Spirit, 
Come,  O  Come,"  a  setting  by  Martin  of  an  old  Latin  hymn, 
written  about  the  tenth  century,  and  attributed  to  King 
Robert  of  France.  Rev.  Reuben  H.  Armstrong,  pastor  of 
the  Elder  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  read  Philippians  2: 
1-11.     The  Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Beck,  City  Missionary,  led  in 


126  Centennial  Memorial. 

prayer.     The  congregation  joined  in  singing  hymn  No.  232, 
vs.  1,2,3,4: 

Jesus  !   the  very  thought  of  Thee 

With  sweetness  fills  my  breast ; 
But  sweeter  far  Thy  face  to  see, 

And  in  Thy  presence  rest. 

Nor  voice  can  sing,  nor  heart  can  frame, 

Nor  can  the  memory  find, 
A  sweeter  sound  than  Thy  blest  name, 

O  Saviour  of  mankind. 

O  hope  of  every  contrite  heart, 

O  joy  of  all  the  meek  ! 
To  those  who  fall  how  kind  Thou  art, 

How  good  to  those  who  seek  ! 

But  what  to  those  who  find  ?     Ah  !  this 

Nor  tongue  nor  pen  can  show ; 
The  love  of  Jesus— what  it  is, 

None  but  His  loved  ones  know. 

The  President  of  the  Evening.  [  think  it  a  great 
pleasure  and  privilege  to  be  here  this  evening,  and  espe- 
cially to  have  the  honor  of  presiding  at  a  meeting  in  which 
shall  be  given  brief  sketches  of  the  dealings  of  God  to  and 
by  the  churches  of  this  city.  The  history  of  one  of  these 
churches  runs  back  a  century,  and  of  the  others  to  different 
periods.  It  has  been  very  properly  arranged  upon  the  pro- 
gramme that  before  hearing  these  sketches  of  the  churches 
of  the  city,  we  should  hear  from  the  mother  church.  Old 
Paxtang,  a  name  loved  and  revered  not  only  in  this 
immediate  section,  but  throughout  the  Presbytery  of  Car- 
lisle. It  has  been  appointed  that  brief  papers,  not  exceed- 
ing fifteen  minutes  in  length,  excepting  that  of  the  church 


Address  by  Rev.  Albert  B.  Williamson.  127 

in  which  we  meet,  to  which  thirty  minutes  have  very  prop- 
erly been  allowed,  shall  be  heard.  We  will  hear  first  from 
Paxtang,  organized  about  1726,  through  the  Pastor,  the 
Rev.  Albert  B.  Williamson. 

Address  by  Rev.  Albert  B.  Williamson. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  sesqui-centennial  celebration 
of  old  Paxtang  Church  is  of  such  recent  date,  and  that 
her  history  was  then  well-nigh  exhausted  in  the  compre- 
hensive article  by  the  ready  pen  of  our  able  State  Libra- 
rian, Dr.  Egle,  (these  facts  all  being  printed  in  the  daily 
newspapers,  and  preserved  in  a  beautifully  bound  volume 
that,  most  of  you,  without  doubt,  have  in  your  possession,) 
it  will  be  almost  impossible  for  me  to  say  anything  to  you 
that  will  be  new  concerning  the  first  part  of  the  subject 
that  was  given  me  for  this  evening. 

Paxtang  Church  is  situated  three  miles  east  of  Harris- 
burg,  taking  the  court  house  for  a  starting  point.  It  was 
organized  by  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians,  who  unable  longer 
to  endure  the  oppression  of  the  old  world,  sought  new 
homes  for  themselves  in  this  "  land  of  the  free,"  where  they 
could  "  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  their  own 
conscience,"  no  one  but  Indians  daring  to  molest  and  they 
could  not  make  afraid.  They  came  in  their  poverty,  but 
the}''  brought  along  with  them  their  Bibles,  catechisms, 
trusty  rifles,  and  last,  but  by  no  means  least,  their  brains. 
As  a  result  they  have  established  for  themselves  and  their 
descendants  a  name  for  intelligence,  resolute  patriotism  and 
stalwart  Christianity,  that  has  distinguished  Paxtang  parish- 
ioners through  the  greater  portion  of  two  centuries. 


128  Centennial  Memorial. 

Very  soon  after  making  homes  for  themselves  in  this 
new  world,  they  built  a  log  church  in  which  to  worship 
God,  situated  a  few  yards  south  of  the  present  church 
building.  Some  few  foundation  stones  of  this  structure 
could  be  seen  in  recent  years.  Exactly  when  this  log 
church  was  built,  how  long  it  stood,  and  when  it  was  torn 
down  to  make  way  for  a  more  substantial  one  of  stone,  no 
one  seems  to  know.  Close  by  this  log  structure  were  the 
graves  of  the  early  pioneers. 

Unfortunately  all  these  graves  with  one  exception  were 
unmarked,  and  that  one,  we  are  told,  was  a  rudely  chiseled 
stone  bearing  the  simple  inscription,  "  Died  1716." 

In  1740  the  present  house  of  worship  was  built,  and 
this  building  "  is  the  oldest  house  of  Presbyterian  worship 
in  the  entire  State  of  Pennsylvania.  There  it  stands 
to-day,  firmer  than  the  day  it  was  built.  The  stones  used 
in  this  building  are  rough  surface  limestones  of  all  sizes 
and  shapes,  picked  up  from  the  surrounding  fields,  and 
put  together  with  very  little  skill,  and  yet  no  firmer, 
better  walls  can  be  found,  and  why?  Because  the  builders 
were  the  masters  of  a  lost  art,  they  knew  how  to  make 
good  mortar.  The  btrength  of  the  walls  lies  in  the  mortar 
which  is  as  hard  as  the  stones  themselves.  The  storms  of 
over  a  century  and  a  half  have  had  so  little  effect  upon  it 
that  the  marks  of  the  mason's  trowel  are  as  clear  as  when 
they  laid  it." 

The  only  thing  about  our  past  that  I  may  be  able  to  say 
this  evening  that  will  be  new  to  at  least  a  portion  of  you, 
will  be  about  the  old  Paxtang  charter,  which  by  the  way, 
is    the    oldest    corporation     charter    in     Dauphin   county. 


Paxtang  Church. 

Erected   1740. 


Address  by  Rev.  Albert  B.  Williamson.  129 

This  charter  was  granted  by  the  Legislature  to  Paxtang 
Presbyterian  Church,  April  1st,  1784.  This  charter  calls 
for  thirteen  trustees,  one  of  whom  is  the  pastor  elect,  "  who 
is  entitled  to  vote  equally  with  any  member  of  the  Board 
of  trustees."  The  trustees,  whose  names  are  in  this  charter, 
were  "persons  of  prominence,  reputation  and  property; 
farmers  in  the  neighborhood."  Their  position  is  shown  by 
their  names  and  valuation  found  upon  the  assessment  roll 
of  1785  and  1786. 

Name.  Rate.  Tax. 

Jacob  Awl, £800  £4-  sO-dO 

John  Covert, 

Samuel  Cochran. 230  1-    6-  8 

Joshua  Elder, 875  4-  12-    0 

John  Forster, 850  4-0-6 

John  Gilchrist, 500  2-18-9 

John  Harris  (founder  of  Hbg.),  2.445  15-    0-  2 

William  Kerr, 525  3-    0-  0 

Thomas  McArther, 225  1-    2-  6 

Alexander  McClure,      ... 

John  Wiggins, 250  1-15-0 

John  Wilson, 470  2-10-0 

Rev.  John  Elder, 480  2-0-0 

Eev.  Mr.  Elder  was  pastor  and  trustee  of  Paxtang  Church 
fifty-six  years.  None  of  the  descendants  of  these  trustees 
now  reside  in  the  neighborhood  of  Paxtang  church. 

There  are  many  distinguished  men  lying  in  old  Paxtang 
grave  yard  without  any  mark  to  designate  their  resting 
place.  Among  those  of  known  reputation  who  have  head- 
stones to  mark  their  resting  place,  are  Wm.  Maclay,  who 
was  the  first  United  States  Senator  from  Pennsylvania ; 
Wm.  AVallace,  Gen.  Michael   Simpson,  and   also  the  man. 


130  Centennial  Memorial. 

who  not  only  gave  his  name  to  this  city  and  laid  out  its 
streets,  but  was  largely  the  means  of  having  Harrisburg 
made  the  capital  of  this  great  Commonwealth,  and  donated 
for  a  capitol  site  a  portion  of  the  ground  now  know^n  as 
capitol  park,  on  which  the  capitol  buildings  are  now 
situated.  To  me  the  only  surprising  thing  in  connection 
with  this  man  is,  that  this  city  has  never  yet  honored  her 
founder  by  erecting  on  some  suitable  site  a  monument  to 
his  memory. 

Throughout  all  these  years  the  people  of  God  have  come 
up  to  this  sacred  spot  to  worship  the  God  of  their  fathers. 
Swarm  after  sw^arm  have  gone  off  from  the  mother-hive 
and  have  found  for  themselves  new  hives  wdiich  have  grow^n 
larger  and  greater  than  the  mother  church.  She  has  kept 
on  in  the  eveji  tenor  of  her  way  out  under  the  old  gray 
oaks  for  more  than  a  century  and  a  half. 

The  first  offspring  of  Paxtang  Church  is  Market  Square, 
which  has  now  not  only  reached  the  mature  age  of  one 
hundred  years,  but  is  much  larger  and  stronger  than  her 
mother.  It  is  not,  however,  with  trepidation  and  fear  that 
the  mother  comes  this  evening  before  her  giant  child,  but  to 
rejoice  in  the  strength  of  her  offspring,  to  bring  her  greet- 
ings of  love,  and  to  cordially  unite  with  her  in  tne 
celebration  of  her  one  hundredth  anniversary. 

The  life  of  a  quiet  country  church  may  seem  to  be  very 
unimportant.  No  wonderful  deeds  such  as  challenge  the 
world  are  recorded  in  its  annals  ;  yet  it  may  lie  near  the 
hearts  and  hopes  of  very  many  of  God's  children.  As  a 
birthplace  of  souls  it  is  more  hallowed  than  that  of  Marathon 
or  Bunker  Hill.     The  transformation  of  character  effected 


Address  by  Rev.  Albert  B.  Williamson.  131 

in  its  midst  is  more  important  than  the  changes  of  empires ; 
the  fellowship  of  faith  sweeter  and  more  enduring  than  the 
ties  of  nature.  Its  worship  and  its  emplo3'ment  give  more 
joy  and  satisfaction  than  the  deliberations  of  councils  or  the 
transactions  of  courts. 

The  church  has  within  recent  years  renewed  her  strength, 
and  now  bids  fair  to  hold  her  position  for  many  years  to 
come.  In  the  winter  of  1887  and  1888  the  interior  of  the 
church  was  reconstructed  and  thoroughly  modernized,  and 
a  sexton  was  employed  to  take  charge  of  the  church  and 
grounds.  In  the  summer  of  1888  three  new  elders  were 
added  to  the  Session.  They  are  now  the  only  ruling  elders 
the  church  has.  The  membership  of  the  church,  which  was 
thirty-two  in  the  year  1887,  has  been  increased  to  sixty- 
seven.  The  women  of  the  church  are  actively  engaged  in 
missionary  work,  both  home  and  foreign.  The  young  peo- 
ple's missionary  band  is  nobly  doing  its  part,  and  man}^ 
hearts  have  been  gladdened  this  winter  by  the  gifts  of 
clothing  made  by  it.  The  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  has  an  active  mem- 
bership of  twenty-three  and  is  a  great  help  to  both  pastor 
and  church.  In  1892  lights  were  put  in  the  church,  since 
which  time  the  cottage  prayermeeting  and  the  men's 
prayermeeting  have  united,  and  now  worship  every 
Wednesday  evening  in  the  church.  The  Sabbath-school  is 
in  a  flourishing  condition.  This  winter  it  held  its  first 
Christmas  entertainment  in  the  church. 

The  President  of  the  Evening.  While  it  is  pleasing  to 
hear  these  tidings  from  the  mother  church,  it  will  be  also 
pleasing  to  hear  from  the  sturdy  daughter  which  has  been 
doing  such  valued  work  during  the  last  century  in  Harris- 


132  Centennial  Memorial. 

burg.  It  was  a  child  whose  birth  was  not  hailed  with  joy 
and  gladness  by  the  mother,  nor  by  its  sturdy,  strong- 
headed,  stout-hearted  pastor,  Mr.  Elder,  of  Paxtang  Church. 
Notwithstanding  that,  she  has  grown  and  prospered  and 
has  been  doing  a  good  work  for  God  and  humanity.  This 
evening  my  thoughts  are  turned  back  just  fiftj^-one  years 
ago  to  the  winter  of  1843,  when,  as  a  boy,  I  visited  Harris- 
burg  for  about  ten  days  or  two  weeks  as  the  guest  of  Dr. 
Charles  N.  Hickok,  now  of  Everett.  During  this  time  Dr. 
DeWitt  was  holding  protracted  services  in  the  old  church, 
which  stood  on  Second  street  and  Cherry  avenue.  Impres- 
sions were  then  made  upon  my  mind  which  were  deepened 
shortly  after  by  hearing  Dr.  Oliver  0.  McClean,  of  Lewis- 
town,  and  led  me  in  April  of  the  same  year  to  take  my  stand 
on  the  Lord's  side.  So  that  I  have  always  felt  a  peculiar 
interest  in  Market  Square  Church  from  that  period  to  the 
present.  We  shall  hear  of  the  present  condition  of  this 
church  from  the  pastor,  Dr.  Stewart. 

Address  by  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart. 

It  is  a  matter  of  profound  regret  to  myself  and  to  all  that 
Mr.  McCarrell,  who  could  so  ably  have  spoken  for  this  church 
at  this  time,  is  unable  to  discharge  this  duty.  The  state  of 
his  health  is  such  as  to  positively  forbid  his  undertaking  it. 
It  was  not  until  a  late  hour  that  this  became  evident,  and 
that  it  fell  to  my  lot  to  take  his  place. 

To-morrow  evening  the  history  of  this  church  will  be 
given  by  one  than  whom  there  is  no  other  more  qualified 
to  narrate  the  story  with  accuracy,  fullness  and  interest. 
To-night   it   devolves   upon    me    to   set  forth    the  present 


Address  by  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  133 

condition  of  the  church.  I  shall  endeavor  to  confine  myself 
strictly  to  the  present  condition,  and  shall  only  call  to  my 
aid  so  much  of  the  past  as  ma}'  be  necessary  to  a  clearer 
presentation  of  the  present. 

It  is  a  source  of  gratification  that  after  a  hundred  3'ears 
of  activity  the  church  is  to-day  in  a  condition  of  growing 
prosperity  and  strength.  There  are  yet  no  signs  of  old  age. 
Her  force  is  in  no  wise  abated.  The  workers  from  time 
to  lime  change.  The  methods  of  work  are  successively 
modified.  The  condition  and  needs  of  the  field  vary. 
Nevertheless  the  church  is  as  well  qualified  and  equipped 
to  do  her  mission  in  this  generation  as  at  any  jDreceding 
time  in  her  history.  In  celebrating  this  centennial  of  her 
birth,  we  are  not  called  upon  to  entertain  fears  of  her  speedy 
dissolution.  She  is  not  decrepit,  nor  has  her  old  age  any 
manifestations  of  failing  strength.  I  ask  you  to  consider 
her  present  condition  in  respect  of 

/.  Ilembership. 
The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  768.  Of  this 
number  Mrs.  Sarah  Doll  is  the  oldest,  having  united  with 
the  church  on  profession  of  her  faith  in  1827.  After  her  the 
next  in  age  is  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Briggs,  who  united  with  the 
church  on  profession  of  her  faith  in  1834.  In  1843  there 
was  a  great  revival,  at  which  time  the  largest  number  who 
ever  united  with  the  church  on  one  occasion  were  received 
into  membership.  Of  this  number  the  following  remain 
members  still  with  us:  Mrs.  Susan  Fleming,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Kerr,  Mrs.  Caroline  R.  Haldeman,  Mrs.  Mal- 
vina  L.  Ingram,  Mrs.  Isabella  S.  Kerr,  Mr.  Alexander 
Roberts,   Mrs.  Mary  E.  Vaughn,   Mrs.   Ann    E.   Zimmer- 


134  Centennial  Memorial. 

man.  There  are  thus  ten  members  who  have  been  com- 
municants in  this  church  for  more  than  fifty  years,  or  more 
than  half  of  the  period  which  we,  on  this  occasion,  celebrate. 
Two  hundred  and  fifty  persons  united  with  the  church  in 
the  twenty  years  that  followed  1843,  and  yet  only  thirteen 
remain  with  us.  They  are  Mrs.  Ellen  W.  Stees,  1850 ;  Mrs. 
Jeanette  Fleming,  1853  ;  Mr.  Samuel  D.  Ingram  and  Miss 
Anna  C.  Weir,  1855;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  B.  Orth  and  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Reily^  1857;  Mrs.  Margaret  F.  Sumner,  1859; 
Miss  Rachel  T.  Briggs,  Mrs.  Louisa  C.  Fahnestock,  Miss 
Louisa  C.  Fahnestock,  Mrs.  Hanna  M.  Harvey,  Miss  Mary 
Vandling  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Vandling,  1862.  Of  those 
who  were  enrolled  during  the  next  twenty-one  years,  be- 
tween 1864  and  1884  inclusive,  there  remain  two  hundred 
and  twenty-nine,  while  of  those  received  during  the  last 
nine  years,  there  remain  five  hundred  and  sixteen. 

II.  Organizations. 
The  oldest  organization  in  connection  with  the  church  is 
the  woman's  weekly  prayermeeting,  held  on  Friday  after- 
noon of  each  week.  The  meeting  can  be  traced  back  as  far 
as  1812,  and  during  all  of  this  long  history  it  has  borne 
an  important  part  in  the  work  of  the  church.  So  signal  has 
been  the  influence  and  the  activity  of  the  women  of  the 
church  that  it  was  at  first  thought  the  centennial  services 
would  not  be  complete  without  giving  special  prominence 
to  this  fact  by  having  a  meeting  devoted  exclusively  to  the 
consideration  of  the  work  the  women  have  done.  But  that 
not  being  deemed  desirable  it  seems  best  for  me  to  lay 
emphasis  upon  the  activity  of  the  women  of  the  past,  and 
to   bear   particular  testimony  to  the  great   value   of  their 


Address  by  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  135 

service  in  the  present.  There  is  a  large  amount  of  unwrit- 
ten history  in  connection  with  this  church  which  if  it  were 
recorded  would  be  blazoned  with  the  names  of  many  godly 
and  eminently  useful  women  who  have  prayed  and 
wrought  to  the  glory  of  God  and  to  the  salvation  of  souls. 
You  will  pardon  me  for  narrating  an  incident  which  has 
peculiar  interest  to  me  and  probably  to  others.  It  is  not 
likely  to  get  into  any  history  except  as  I  might  tell  it.  In 
1884,  it  pleased  this  congregation  to  call  me  to  its  pastorate. 
After  receiving  that  call,  I  held  it  under  advisement  for  a 
considerable,  I  guess  the  congregation  thought  it  an  incon- 
siderable, time.  After  many  days  of  prayerful  deliberation, 
the  day  arrived  on  which  m}^  answer  must  be  sent,  and  I 
had  reached  no  conclusion.  I  was  in  great  stress  of  mind 
as  to  wdiere  my  duty  lay  between  your  call  and  the  wishes 
of  the  beloved  people  I  had  served  for  six  years.  The 
letter  must  go  on  a  train  which  left  the  city  a  few  minutes 
after  four  o'clock.  Three  o'clock  had  arrived  and  my  deci- 
sion had  not  yet  been  made.  In  earnest  prayer  I  sought, 
as  I  had  previously  sought,  Divine  guidance.  I  thought 
that  I  had  received  it  and  it  became  clear  that  it  was  my 
duty  to  accept  your  call.  That  was  on  Friday  afternoon 
between  three  and  four  o'clock.  I  wrote  the  letter  hastily, 
posted  it  and  wired  my  decision  to  an  elder  of  the  church. 
He  received  my  telegram,  and  a  few  moments  later  he  met 
one  of  the  women  of  the  church  and  mentioned  to  her  that 
he  had  received  a  telegram  from  me  announcing  my  deci- 
sion. She  said,  "  I  know  what  it  is.  I  have  just  come 
from  the  woman's  prayermeeting,  where  we  have  been 
praying  that  he  might   come,  and  we  seemed  to  have  the 


136  Centennial  Memorial. 

assurance  that  he  will  come."  I  cannot  but  feel  the  prayers 
offered  in  Harrisburg  and  at  Auburn  during  that  one  com- 
mon hour  were  instrumental  in  bringing  the  one  common 
answer. 

The  woman's  Friday  afternoon  prayermeeting  is  a  lineal 
descendant  of  the  early  meetings  of  the  women  in  the 
church,  though  much  of  the  work  which  was  originally 
done  in  connection  with  its  weekly  meetings  is  now  carried 
forward  by  numerous  other  organizations.  This  meeting  is 
now  in  about  the  same  condition  in  which  it  has  been  for 
several  years.  The  attendance  remains  stationary  with  a 
few  new  ones  becoming  regular  attendants  who  take  the 
place  of  those  called  away  by  death  or  removal.  Probabl}^ 
fifteen  or  twenty  comprise  the  number  of  those  who  attend 
this  weekly  meeting.  A  collection  is  taken  at  each  meeting 
which  is  given  for  such  objects  of  benevolence  as  the 
ladies  may  decide.  These  offerings  annually  amount  to 
about  $150,  and  are  appropriated  to  missionary  and  other 
uses. 

Another  woman's  organization  is  the  Dorcas  Society, 
which  during  the  winter  months  meets  each  week  to  cut 
out  garments  and  to  do  sewing  for  the  destitute  of  the  con- 
gregation. During  this  present  winter  this  society,  on 
account  of  the  present  distress,  has  been  unusually  active. 

The  ladies  are  also  carrying  on  with  great  and  encourag- 
ing results  a  sewing-school  for  girls,  which  has  been  in 
existence  since  February  1,  1879.  No  girl  is  allowed  to 
become  a  member  of  the  sewing-school  unless  she  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Sunday-school.  These  girls  are  taught  the 
useful  art  of  sewing  from  the  most  elementary  up  to  dress- 


Address  by  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  137 

making,  fancy  embroidery  and  fancy  knitting.  Mrs.  Isabella 
S.  Kerr  has  been  superintendent  from  the  beginning,  and, 
notwithstanding  her  enfeebled  health,  is  still  the  guiding 
and  inspiring  mind.  Thus  far  for  this  winter  there  are 
enrolled  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  scholars. 

The  Women's  Missionary  Society  was  organized  October 
2,  1871,  and  meets  monthly  on  the  first  Friday  of  each 
month.  This  society  does  a  most  valuable  work  in  the  inter- 
est of  Foreign  Missions,  though  its  collections  gathered  at 
each  meeting  are  divided  equally  between  the  Home  and 
Foreign  work.  The  meetings  are  well  attended,  full  of 
interest  and  valuable  as  an  agency  for  maintaining  and 
increasing  the  interest  in  missions.  Our  women  are  also 
united  with  those  of  the  several  Presbyterian  churches  of 
the  city  in  the  Women's  Union  Home  Missionary  Society, 
organized  in  1881.  The  ladies  also  co-operate  with  the  ladies 
of  other  churches  in  the  INIcAll  Auxiliary  in  the  interest 
of  that  mission  work  in  France.  There  is  a  Ladies  Aid 
Society,  which  devotes  particular  attention  to  the  care  of  the 
church  and  its  other  material  interests.  It  thus  appears 
that  now  as  always  in  the  history  of  the  church  the  women 
are  foremost  in  every  good  work.  By  pureness,  by  knowl- 
edge, by  zeal,  they  further  the  work  of  the  Master  here,  and 
their  power  has  gone  into  all  the  world. 

The  Sunday-school  was  organized  August  16,  1816.  The 
school  is  divided  into  Senior,  Intermediate,  Primary  and 
Chinese  departments.  The  present  superintendent,  Mr.  S. 
J,  M.  McCarrell,  has  occupied  this  honorable  office  since 
the  death  of  Mr.  Weir,  in  1878,  discharging  the  duties  of  the 


138  Centennial  Memorial. 

same  with  eminent  ability  and  success.  The  secretaries' 
reports  for  the  past  year  show  that  we  have  enrolled  in  the 
church  school  twenty-five  officers,  ninety-eight  teachers,  one 
thousand  and  ninety-six  scholars,  a  total  of  one  thousand 
two  hundred  and  nineteen.  Many  of  these  scholars  are  not 
otherwise  connected  with  the  church.  The  children  of  our 
own  members  are  almost  without  exception  communicant 
or  baptized  members  of  the  church,  are  members  of  the 
Sunday-school,  and  are  faithful  in  attendance  upon  the 
services  of  the  sanctuary. 

Among  our  young  people  we  have  a  Young  People's 
Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  and  a  Junior  Society  of 
Christian  Endeavor.  The  former  was  organized  Nov.  5th, 
1886,  and  the  latter  Feb.  3d,  1890.  Both  are  valuable  and 
active  organizations.  The  Young  People's  Society  has  a 
membership  of  about  one  hundred  and  forty.  It  holds  a 
weekly  prayermeeting  every  Sunday  evening  before  church 
service,  a  bi-weekly  missionary  meeting  and  an  occasional 
social,  and  other  entertainments.  The  zeal,  enthusiasm  and 
energy  of  the  young  people  is  being  wisely  directed  through 
this  organization  along  all  the  lines  of  church  work,  and 
though  it  is  so  recent  an  agent,  yet  it  is  one  of  the  most 
valuable. 

The  Junior  Society  is  composed  of  boys  and  girls,  and 
meets  each  Monday  afternoon.  It  is  under  the  manage- 
ment of  five  ladies,  who  are  most  enthusiastic  in  their  work 
and  have  stimulated  a  real  enthusiasm  among  the  one 
hundred  members.  Just  now  the  pastor  is  giving  a  course 
of  lessons  on  the  life  of  Christ.     There  is  held  a  monthly 


Address  by  Rev.  George  B.  Steivart.  139 

missionary  meeting,  at  which  a  collection  for  missions  is 
taken.     This  amounts  to  about  $40  a  year. 

In  addition  to  those  several  organizations  among  the 
young,  there  are  numerous  mission  bands — twelve,  or  more 
— organized  for  home  and  foreign  mission  work  and  other 
good  purposes.  These  ordinarily  meet  monthly,  and  are 
accomplishing  good  results. 

As  one  of  the  results  of  the  revival  in  the  winter  of  1875-6 
came  the  cottage  prayermeeting,  organized  Dec.  12th,  1875. 
This  meeting  is  held  every  Monday  evening  from  house  to 
house.  While  the  immediate  purpose  for  which  it  was 
organized  has  ceased  to  exist,  and  many  of  its  most  active 
supporters  have  withdrawn  from  it  to  enter  upon  larger  and 
more  important  church  work,  nevertheless  it  seems  to  have 
a  place  to  fill,  and  is  accomplishing  good,  though  not  great' 
results. 

For  several  years  the  music  of  the  church  has  been  led 
by  a  volunteer  choir,  which  gives  its  services  without  com- 
pensation, with  great  heartiness,  regularity  and  universal 
acceptance. 

For  several  years  the  Pastor  has  conducted  during  eight 
months  of  the  year  a  weekly  Bible  class  for  the  careful  and 
systematic  study  of  the  Scripture.  This  class  is  attended 
by  a  small  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  are  de- 
voted to  the  w^ork.  It  may  properly  be  regarded  as  one  of 
the  organizations  of  the  church. 

It  thus  appears  that  the  church  is  well  organized  for  the 
prosecution  of  a  large  variety  of  work  and  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  its  many  interests. 


140  Centennial  Memorial. 

III.  Calvary  Chapel. 
In  1888,  as  a  result  of  Sunday-school  work  carried  on  for 
many  years  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lochiel  by  the  members 
of  this  church,  there  was  erected  a  beautiful  stone  chapel, 
corner  of  South  Cameron  and  Sycamore  streets,  and  there 
was  organized  within  it  Calvary  Chapel  Sunday-school. 
This  work  has  steadily  grown  from  year  to  year.  The 
school  has  outgrown  its  quarters,  and  a  comfortable  and 
attractive  room  has  been  fitted  up  in  the  basement  during 
this  past  year  for  the  use  of  a  primary  department,  com- 
posed of  the  younger  scholars.  Since  June  1st,  1891,  the 
work  has  been  in  the  more  immediate  charge  of  the  Rev. 
David  M.  Skilling,  who  with  conscientious  fidelity,  untiring 
devotion  and  great  efficiency  has  carried  forward  the 
interests  of  this  portion  of  tiie  congregation.  It  is  now  a 
well-organized  congregation  in  everything  but  the  name. 
There  are  two  preaching  services,  a  Sunday-school  and  a 
Christian  Endeavor  meeting  every  Lord's  day.  During  the 
week  a  Junior  Christian  Endeavor  Society,  a  Ladies' 
Sewing  Society,  a  Ladies  Missionary  Society,  a  Young 
Men's  Association,  a  number  of  mission  bands  and  Sunday- 
school  class  organizations  hold  their  respective  meetings. 
It  is  most  gratifying  to  note  also  that  there  have  been 
many  conversions  as  the  result  of  this  work.  The  con- 
tributions of  the  Chapel  congregation  and  the  Sunday- 
school,  together  with  the  help  of  one  or  two  friends 
of  the  work,  defray  the  whole  expense  of  the  same, 
besides  making  generous  contribution  to  missionary  and 
benevolent  causes.  During  the  past  year  a  free  reading  and 
social  room  has  been  established  in  the  basement,  and  is 


Calvary  Presbyterian  Chapel, 

Cameron  and  Sycamche  Streets. 

ERECTED  1887-88. 


Address  by  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  141 

open  every  night  in  the  week  for  all  who  may  come. 
Reading  matter  and  games  are  provided  in  abnndance. 
There  is  a  gratifying  attendance  on  the  part  of  the  men, 
old  and  young,  from  that  portion  of  the  city.  We  are  much 
encouraged  by  the  results  of  the  experiment.  Our  affection 
for  this  work  and  interest  in  its  prosperity  is  most  sincere 
and  unflagging. 

IV.  Official  Boards. 
The  Session  is  the  oldest  of  the  Boards,  its  life  being  coter- 
minous with  that  of  the  church.  It  was  constituted  Feb- 
ruary 16th,  1794,  by  the  election  of  three  elders.  It  now 
has  five  elders,  all  of  whom  have  been  elected,  as  were  their 
predecessors,  for  life.  Of  these  five,  three,  Elders  McCarrell, 
McCauley  and  Miller,  were  ordained  to  this  office  April 
15th,  1877,  and  two.  Elders  Harvey  and  Spicer,  were 
ordained  March  20th,  1887.  As  pastor  of  the  church,  being 
thrown  into  constant  and  most  intimate  relations  with 
these  brethren,  I  desire  to  bear  testimony  to  their  unvarying 
loyalty,  fidelity  and  zeal  in  all  the  interests  of  the  congre- 
gation in  which  God  and  the  people  have  made  them  over- 
seers. It  is  an  unwritten  law  of  the  Session  that  no  action 
is  taken  unless  it  is  unanimous  action.  The  venerated 
Alexander  Sloan,  who  served  as  a  member  of  the  Session 
from  1834  to  1890,  was  in  the  habit  of  saying  that  he  never 
had  been  present  at  any  meeting  of  the  Session  which  was 
marred  by  unpleasant  disagreement  between  the  members 
of  that  body.  The  same  can  be  said  up  to  the  present  time. 
I  never  have  met  a  body  of  men  who  have  been  more  care- 
ful to  respect  the  judgment  and  protect  the  feelings  of  their 
associates,  while,  at  the  same  time,  being  most  free  and  inde- 


142  Centennial  Memorial. 

pendent  in  their  thought  and  utterance.  All  of  the  num- 
erous activities  and  grave  responsibilities  of  this  congrega- 
tion have  been  committed  to  their  charge,  and  they  per- 
form their  duties  with  commendable  fidelity  and  distin- 
guished ability. 

The  youngest  official  Board  of  the  church  is  the  Board  of 
Deacons,  which  was  first  constituted  by  the  ordination  of 
seven  deacons  on  the  20th  of  March,  1887.  The  Board  is 
elected  according  to  the  rotary  system,  and  as  the  term  of 
each  class  has  expired  the  members  of  tiiat  class  have  been 
successively  re-elected,  so  that  the  Board  has  the  same  mem- 
bers now  as  at  the  beginning,  with  a  single  exception.  In 
1889  the  serious  illness  of  Mr.  John  K.  Tomlinson,  one  of 
the  original  members,  forbade  his  re-election,  and  Mr. 
David  Fleming,  Jr.,  was  chosen  in  his  stead,  and  still  is  a 
member  of  the  Board.  This  Board  has  charge  of  the  -poor 
of  the  church.  They  are  the  almoners  of  the  charity  of  the 
congregation.  They  are  most  discreet  and  faithful  in  the 
discharge  of  their  duties,  and  have  come  to  be  an  indis- 
pensable part  of  our  organization. 

The  first  Board  of  Trustees,  under  the  civil  charter  of 
the  church,  was  elected  in  1819.  Prior  to  this  there  were 
trustees,  though  the  congregation  had  no  corporate  exist- 
ence. By  the  charter  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  church 
and  its  property  are  in  the  care  of  this  board,  composed  of 
seven  gentlemen  from  the  congregation.  The  fact  that  we 
have  such  a  large  and  valuable  plant  in  the  heart  of  the 
city,  complete  in  all  its  appointments  and  in  the  best  repair, 
that  we  have  a  beautiful  and  eligibly  located  manse  for  the 
use  of  the  minister,  that  all  of  the  financial  obligations  of 


Addi^ess  by  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  143 

the  congregation  are  met  fully  and  promptly,  is  abundant 
evidence  of  the  ability  and  devotion  of  these  servants  of  the 
church.  Mention  ought  to  be  made  of  the  fact  that  the 
Trustees,  with  the  consent  and  under  the  direction  of  the 
congregation,  during  the  past  year  purchased  one  of  the 
most  desirable  building  sites  in  the  city.  No.  127  State 
street,  and  erected  thereon  a  most  substantial,  commodious, 
convenient  and  attractive  residence  for  the  minister.  While 
the  expense  incurred  by  this  has  not  been  entirely  met, 
yet  it  is  safe  to  say  that  had  not  the  city  and  country  been 
suddenly  and  unexpectedly  overtaken  by  financial  distress 
after  the  building  operations  had  been  begun,  the  whole 
amount  would  have  been  provided  for  before  this  time. 
It  is  equally  safe  to  say  that  the  balance  yet  to  be  raised 
can,  in  the  near  future,  be  easily  secured. 

V.   Services  and  Meetings. 

As  a  matter  of  record  on  this  occasion  it  is  probably 
worth  while  to  mention  the  various  services  that  are  held  in 
connection  with  our  church  work.  The  Lord's  Supper  is 
administered  four  times  each  year,  on  the  first  Lord's  day 
in  each  calendar  quarter.  For  many  years  there  has 
not  been  a  Sacramental  occasion  at  which  there  have  not 
been  some  additions  to  our  membership.  The  communi- 
cants of  the  church  are  uniformally  regular  in  their  attend- 
ance upon  this  ordinace. 

The  sacrament  of  Baptism  is  administered  statedly  on  the 
days  following  each  Communion  service,  and  on  Children's 
Day  in  June,  and  at  such  other  times  as  may  suit  the  con- 
venience of  the  parents.  Parents  are,  with  rare  exception, 
faithful  in  presenting  their  children  for  this  ordinance. 


144  Centennial  Memorial. 

There  are  two  preaching  services,  at  10.30  a.  m.  and 
7.30  p.  m.,  respectively.  Sunday-school  at  1.30  o'clock, 
and  Christian  Endeavor  meeting  at  6.45  each  Lord's 
day.  Junior  Christian  Endeavor  and  Cottage  prayermeet- 
ing  on  each  Monday,  with  a  monthly  Session  meeting  on 
the  second  Monday  of  each  month.  On  Wednesday  even- 
ing the  lecture  and  prayermeeting,  and  following  it  the 
teachers'  meeting  for  the  study  of  the  Sunday-school  lesson 
are  regularly  held.  Friday  evening  is  devoted  to  the  pas- 
tor's Bible  class.  In  addition  to  these  services  there  are  a 
multitude  of  meetings  of  different  organizations  and  for 
various  purposes  held  every  week.  It  is  entirely  safe  to  say 
that  during  ten  months  of  the  year  the  meetings  held  in 
connection  with  the  church  will  average  in  all  about  twenty- 
five  a  week. 

For  several  years  the  congregation  has  been  in  th-e  habit 
of  observing  with  appropriate  services,  Children's  Day,  the 
second  Sunday  in  June,  appointed  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly. This  day  is  now  generally  observed  throughout  the 
Christian  world.  We  were  one  of  the  first  congregations  to 
inaugurate  the  custom. 

During  the  Civil  War  there  was  held  on  one  occasion  a 
morning  prayermeeting  at  six  o'clock  on  the  Fourth  of  July 
to  consider  the  nation's  interests  and  to  pray  for  its  welfare 
This  prayermeeting  has  been  held  uninterruptedly  ever 
since  and  is  well  attended  being  participated  in  by  our 
citizens  irrespective  of  church  connection. 

It  has  been  the  custom  from  time  immemorial  for  this 
church  to  assemble  on  the  annual  Thanksgiving  Day 
appointed  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  and  the 


Address  by  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  145 

Governor  of  the  Commonwealth  for  services  appropriate  to 

the  occasion. 

Other  services  are  held  as  occasion  ma}'  arise,  the  church 
being  responsive  to  all  proper  calls  to  worship  and  service. 

VI.  Spiritual  Condition. 

It  is  probable  that  the  spiritual  condition  of  the  congre- 
gation will  never  be  satisfactory.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  we 
will  never  reach  such  a  point  in  our  growth  in  grace  as  to  be 
content  with  our  attainments.  May  we  ever  have  a  hun- 
gering and  thirsting  after  righteousness.  There  is  much  in 
the  spiritual  condition  of  the  church  to  call  for  humiliation, 
and  confession  and  prayer.  Many  hearts  in  Zion  are  bur- 
dened with  the  desire  for  a  higher  life  for  their  beloved 
church.  May  the  number  of  these  who  thus  long  for  the 
most  excellent  things  of  God  largely  increase,  and  may 
their  fervent  prayers  receive  from  our  Heavenly  Father 
speedy  and  gracious  answer  in  the  quickening  of  His  own 
people,  and  the  conversion  of  those  who  know  Him  not. 

Nevertheless,  we  must  not  forget  that  active,  earnest  ser- 
vice foi  the  Master,  and  true  zeal  in  advancing  His  king- 
dom are  evidences  of  spiritual  life.  I  cannot  but  believe 
that  the  large  and  varied  activities  of  this  congregation,  its 
zeal  for  a  pure  gospel  in  the  mouth  of  its  ministers,  for  the 
honor  of  God's  name  in  this  community  and  the  spread  of 
the  glorious  kingdom  throughout  the  world,  its  efforts  for 
the  relief  of  the  poor  and  for  the  maintenance  of  all  the 
varied  agencies  of  the  church,  are  the  product  of  true  spirit- 
ual power.  The  large  contributions  which  it  makes,  aggregat- 
ing, now  and  for  a  number  of  years  past,  $20,000  per  annum 
for  the  support  of  the  gospel  here  and  elsewhere,  for  benevo- 


146  Centennial  Memorial. 

lent  and  charitable  undertakings  of  various  kinds,  is  an 
evidence  of  the  presence  with  us  of  the  indwelling  Spirit  of 
God.  That  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  may  be  more  and  more 
largely  manifested  among  us,  that  we  may  be  rich  in  every 
good  work,  that  we  may  grow  in  grace  and  the  knowledge 
of  Jesus  Christ,  is  the  fervent  prayer  of  our  hearts. 

In  closing,  permit  me  to  say  a  word  to  the  other 
churches — our  mother  church  and  our  children.  To  you 
my  brother,  the  Pastor  of  Paxtang  Church,  the  grandmother 
of  us  all,  who,  notwithstanding  her  venerable  age,  is 
renewing  her  youth  and  coming  into  the  possession  of 
an  increasing  inheritance,  hearty  greeting.  We  entertain 
for  you  true  filial  affection.  Paxtang  will  always  be  dear 
to  Market  Square,  Much  of  the  blood  of  that  venerable 
church  still  contributes  to  the  life  and  power  of  this 
congregation.  Never  will  we  forget  our  debt  and  obligation 
to  you,  nor  cease  to  cherish  your  interest  as  our  own. 

To  you,  my  brother,  the  representative  of  the  Pine  Street 
Church,  the  eldest  of  those  that  have  gone  from  us,  on 
behalf  of  this  church  I  extend  the  most  cordial  welcome 
to  the  enjoyments  of  this  occasion.  From  the  very  first 
of  your  existence  as  a  separate  organization  you  have 
shared  with  us,  share  and  share  alike,  the  responsibility 
and  honor  of  our  denomination  in  the  city.  We  rejoice 
in  your  magnificent  usefulness  and  your  increasing  honor. 
We  are  more  closely  identified  in  interest,  and  purpose,  and 
labors  than  ever  before.  I  know  that  I  voice  the  feelings 
of  my  people  when  I  say,  it  is  our  earnest  desire  that  this 
union  in  affection  and  activity  may  increase  with  oui 
vears. 


Address  by  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  147 

We  cannot  forget  that  an  elder  and  others  from  this 
congregation  were  instrumental  in  starting  the  movement 
out  of  which  has  grown  the  Elder  Street  Presbyterian 
Church.  Your  conservative  and  substantial  work  among 
the  colored  people  of  this  city  is  gratifying  to  all  the 
friends  of  your  race  and  church.  We  welcome  you  to- 
night. 

The  large  fields,  the  increasing  prosperity,  the  acquisition 
of  new  and  beautiful  houses  of  worship  which  characterize 
the  Covenant  and  Westminster  Presbyterian  Churches  fill 
our  hearts  with  gratitude.     We  welcome  you. 

The  Olivet  Presbyterian  Church,  the  youngest  of  us  all,  is 
nobly  resisting  and  successfully  overcoming  the  j»erils  of 
infancy,  and  undoubtedly  has  for  itself  an  important  and 
growing  field  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city.  Our  heartiest 
greetings  to  the  infant  of  months. 

Dear  brethren,  we  are  not  unmindful  that  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  life  blood  of  this  church  has  gone  to  advance 
your  interests  and  we  rejoice  in  it.  We  rejoice  in  your 
growth.  Together  with  you  we  magnif}^  the  importance  of 
your  fields,  and  we  bid  you  God  speed  in  all  your  blessed 
work. 

This  is  a  happy  family.  We  are  united  in  heart,  in 
interest,  in  purpose.  We  have  no  rivalries  and  no  conflicts. 
The  interest  of  one  is  the  interest  of  all.  Our  Master  has 
committed  to  us  the  work  of  our  denomination  in  this  city. 
It  is  a  work  of  commanding  importance.  As  one  man  we 
undertake  the  task.  In  speaking  for  myself  and  for  these 
people,  whose  minister  I  am,  my  last  and  my  most  impor- 
tant word  is  this,  our  fervent  desire  and  prayer  is  that  this 


148  Centennial  Memorial. 

occasion    may   emphasize   our    unit}^   and    strengthen    its 
bonds. 

The   President  of  the  Evening.     In  1858  an  earnest 
and  devoted  band  of  christian  men  and  women  went  out 
from  this  church  and  organized  the  Pine  Street  Church.     At 
the  time  it  was  a  great  trial  to  the  pastor  and  to  the  co- 
pastor,  Dr.  DeWitt  and  Dr.  Robinson.     It  was  a  great  trial 
to  the  good  people  of  this  church.     What  the  Lord  was  then 
doing  they  knew  not.     But  as  we  look  back  over  the  past 
.  history,  it  seems  to  me  that  we  can  know  as  we  behold  the 
great  and  good  work  which  has  been  done  by  that  church. 
As   I  call  to   mind   to-night  the   relation    that  these   two 
churches  sustained  to  myself  and  to  each  other  in  the  work 
undertaken  from  year  to  year,  I  can  bear  delighted  testimony 
that  to  my  knowledge  they  have  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder 
and  labored  heart  to  heart  and  hand  to  hand  in  the  aggres- 
sive work  for  a  kindred  feith  in  this  city.     We  shall  hear 
from  Pine  Street  through  Prof.  Jacob  F.  Seller,  who  from  the 
time  of  its  organization  has  been  its  honored  Sunday-school 
Superintendent,  and  from  a  date  shortly  after  its  organiza- 
tion has  been  a  ruling  elder  in  that  church. 

Address  by  Jacob  F.  Seiler,  Ph.  D. 
On  the  22nd  of  May  of  the  year  1858,  a  committee  of  the 
Carlisle  Presbytery  met  in  Harrisburg  to  organize  a  new 
church.  At  this  date  there  were  in  existence  in  the  borough 
two  societies  holding  to  the  Presbyterian  faith  and  polity, 
viz :  the  English  Presbyterian,  and  a  congregation  of 
colored  people  now  known  as  the  Elder  Street  Church. 
Sometime  in  the  preceding  March  the  first-mentioned 
congregation  had  lost  their  church  edifice  by  a  destructive 


Pine  Street  Presbyterian  Church. 

Erected  1859-60. 


Address  by  Jacob  F.  Seller,  Ph.  D.  149 

fire.  At  this  juncture  a  portion  of  the  congregation, 
believing  that  tlie  interests  of  Presbyterianism  and  religion 
in  general  would  be  promoted,  requested  the  Carlisle 
Presbytery  to  grant  them  a  distinct  and  separate  organiza- 
tion ;  forty-two  persons  bearing  certificates  of  good  and 
regular  standing  from  the  English  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  eight  others  bearing  similar  certificates  from  other 
churches,  were  organized  into  a  Presbyterian  Church, 
according  to  the  directions  of  the  General  Assembly.  They 
then  elected  as  ruling  elders :  Messrs  Francis  Weyth,  H. 
Murray  Graydon  and  James  McCormick,  Jr.  On  February 
1,  1859,  the  church  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture under  the  name  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Harris- 
burg.  The  original  trustees  named  in  the  charter  were : 
Messrs  James  McCormick,  A.  B.  Warford,  Charles  C.  Rawn, 
E.  M.  Pollock,  A.  Boyd  Hamilton,  Joseph  Casey  and  J. 
Donald  Cameron. 

Of  the  fifty  who  presented  certificates  on  May  22d,  the 
following  persons  are  still  in  active  membership :  Mrs. 
Francis  P.  Rawn,  Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Wyeth,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  E. 
Sharp,  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Forster,  Mrs.  Isabella  H.  Hamilton, 
Mr.  J.  W.  Simonton,  Mrs.  Sarah  K.  Simonton,  Mr.  H.  M. 
Graydon,  Mr.  James  McCormick  and  myself. 

On  June  6th  a  Sabbath-school  was  organized  with  three 
officers,  eleven  teachers  and  forty-two  scholars.  Of  the 
fourteen  teachers  and  officers  present  at  the  formation  of 
the  Sunday-school  the  survivers  are :  Mrs.  "Wyeth,  Mrs. 
Rawn,  Judge  Simonton,  James  McCormick  and  the  writer. 
An  extract  from  the  first  narrative  of  the  State  of  religion 
in  the  church  is  the  statement,  that  "  of  the  seven  persons 


150  Centennial  Memorial. 

admitted  to  church  memljership,  six  are  from  the  Sunday- 
school." 

On  May  12th,  1859,  the  corner-stone  of  the  cliurch  edifice 
was  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies.  Addresses  were 
delivered  by  Rev.  Robert  Watts  (now  of  Belfast),  and  Rev. 
S.  T.  Lowrie,  of  Alexandria,  Va.  Mr.  H.  M.  Graydon  read 
a  statement  of  the  steps  which  led  to  the  formation  of  the 
church.  Rev.  A.  D.  Mitchell,  of  Paxtang,  and  Rev.  George 
Morris,  of  Silver  Spring,  assisted  in  the  devotional  exer- 
cises. The  stone  was  laid  to  its  place  by  the  Rev.  A.  G. 
Simonton.  The  church  site  was  the  same  as  that  of  the 
present  with  somewhat  less  extension  on  Third  street.  On 
the  previous  January  the  lecture-room  was  sufficiently  fur- 
nished for  temporar}^  occuj^ation.  In  August  of  the  same 
year  work  was  resumed,  and  that  portion  of  the  church 
building  was  completed  and  occupied  on  November  19th. 

On  the  22d  of  July,  18G0,  a  little  over  two  3^ears  after  the 
organization,  the  congregation  dedicated  the  church  edifice 
to  the  worship  of  God.  It  was  a  day  of  joy,  and  an  occa- 
sion of  public  interest.  Several  churches  in  the  city  closed 
their  houses  of  worship  so  that  their  members  could  partici- 
pate in  the  services.  The  Rev.  P.  D.  Gurley,  D.  D.,  of 
Washington  city,  and  Rev.  N.  C.  Burt,  D.  D.,  of  Baltimore, 
preached  on  the  occasion.  Meanwhile  from  the  date  of 
organization  to  Januar}''  5,  1860,  a  period  of  eighteen 
months,  the  congregation  had  occupied  four  different  places 
for  various  meetings:  the  lecture-room  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church,  the  lecture-room  of  the  Baptist  Church — 
Pine  and  Second,  the  hall  of  the  Senate,  and  the  hall  of 
the  House  of  Representatives.     With  the  completion  of  the 


Address  by  Jacob  F.  Seller,  Ph.  D.  151 

church  building  fairly  in  view,  it  was  time  to  call  a  perma- 
nent pastor.  Heretofore  the  congregation  had  been  served 
uninterruptedly  by  temporary  supplies.  The  spiritual  over- 
sight of  the  church  had  meanwhile  devolved  largely  upon 
the  elders;  of  the  fifty-three  admitted  to  membership,  eigh- 
teen were  added  on  confession.  This  responsibility,  along 
with  the  labor  of  procuring  and  providing  for  supplies  and 
the  conduct  of  week  day  meetings,  though  a  labor  of  love, 
was  none  the  less  a  labor.  Therefore,  both  they  and  the 
congregation  heartily  welcomed  our  first  Pastor,  the  Rev. 
W.  C.  Cattell,  who  had  been  unanimously  called  March  3, 
1860,  and  installed  September  the  22d.  The  two  great 
events  in  the  church's  history  for  the  year  1860 — the  calling 
of  a  pastor  and  the  dedication  of  the  building — were  the 
occasion  of  much  thanksgiving  and  congratulation,  and  it 
was  a  providential  appointment  that  the  congregation  had 
so  strengthened  itself  to  meet  the  excitements  and  strains 
of  the  Civil  War.  Our  town  was  turned  into  an  armed 
camp.  As  many  as  ten  thousand  soldiers  wearing  the  blue 
were  posted  in  the  then  famous  Camp  Curtin,  and  threat- 
ened to  sw^allow  up  every  other  interest.  The  tramp  of  men 
and  the  beat  of  drums  ceased  neither  week  day  nor  Sunday. 
Third  street  then  as  now  was  the  great  highway.  The  ex- 
citement was  intense.  On  Sabbath  morning,  June  28,  1863, 
Dr.  Cattell  preached  to  a  congregation  of  twelve  persons. 
The  evening  services  were  omitted.  More  than  once  during 
the  progress  of  this  bloody  war  the  female  teachers  and 
older  scholars  went  from  the  Sabbath-school  to  assist  in  the 
various  hospitals  or  to  prepare  for  wants  that  could  not 
wait  for  next  day.     Neither  were  our  men  idle  or  indifferent 


152  Centennial  Memorial. 

to  the  voice  of  patriotism.  For  at  the  call  of  country,  ac- 
cording to  the  statistics  ))repared  by  the  superintendent  for 
the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  Pine  Street  Church, 
forty-nine  (49)  members  of  the  Sunday-school  had  served 
in  the  army  and  navy  during  the  Civil  War.  The  closing 
words  of  the  report  for  the  Sabbath-school  covering  the 
year  1864  are  the  following :  "  Eight  deaths  are  recorded, 
among  them  those  of  Corporal  John  C.  Lane  and  William 
Smith,  of  the  Fifty-fifth  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers, and  of  the  same  company.  Smith  died  in  hospital 
and  Lane's  death  was  hastened  by  grief  over  the  loss  of  his 
comrade."  Old  people  will  recall  the  anxieties  and  hopes, 
with  all  the  varying  sensations,  which  characterized  those' 
trying  times  to  State  and  Church.  But  notwithstanding 
these  distracting  scenes,  the  Session  in  its  narrative  of  the 
state  of  religion  presented  April  13,1863,  say:  "Our  Sab- 
bath and  weekly  services  have  been  well  attended,  and  our 
Sab  oath-school  has  been  largely  increased.  The  sum  of  our 
contributions  to  benevolent  objects,  we  are  happy  to  say,  is 
fifty  per  cent,  larger  than  last  year,  and  three  times  as  great 
as  the  year  before.  We  have  welcomed  into  our  number 
sixteen  persons."  "  On  July  19,  1863,"  the  record  further 
says,  "Jacob  F.  Seller  was  ordained  to  the  eldership."  The 
Board  of  Elders  remained  unchanged  until  May  22d,  1887, 
when  the  number  was  increased  to  six,  by  the  ordination  of 
Francis  Jordan  and  Daniel  W.  Cox.  After  a  period  of  three 
3^ears  and  two  months,  Dr.  Cattell  tendered  his  resignation, 
much  to  the  regret  of  the  congregation,  and  preached  his 
farewell  sermon  November  29,  1863.  He  had  accepted  the 
presidency  of  Lafayette  College.     On  November  15,  1864, 


Address  by  Jacob  F.  Seller,  Ph.  D.  153 

Rev.  Samuel  S.  Mitchell,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick,  was  ordained  and  installed  Pastor  of  the 
Pine  Street  Church,  and  so  continued  for  four  years  and 
three  months,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  a  call  to  the  New 
York  Avenue  Church,  of  Washington  city.  The  third  pastor 
was  Addison  K.  Strong.  He  was  installed  on  the  14th  of 
June,  1870.  Dr.  Strong  continued  in  the  pastoral  office  for 
three  years  and  eight  months,  when,  having  accepted  a  call 
from  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  he  was  released  by  the  Presby- 
terj''  February  12, 1874.  Once  more  the  church  was  witliout 
a  pastor. 

The  membership  of  the  church  kept  steadily  growing 
under  the  care  and  oversight  of  our  rather  numerous 
pastors.  Upon  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Strong  the  net 
membership  was  three  hundred  and  twenty-four.  But  the 
Sabbath-school  had  at  the  same  time  increased  to  a  total 
of  eight  hundred  and  twenty-one.  From  1872  to  1875  the 
great  question  was  to  provide  accommodation  for  its 
increasing  members.  Prior  to  1870  the  Seventh  Street — 
now  Covenant — had  been  organized  by  volunteers  from 
Pine  Street.  Later,  about  the  year  1872,  many  of  our  most 
useful  and  best  trained  co-laborers  took  part  in  founding 
the  Westminster  Sabbath-school.  Notwithstanding  this 
spirit  of  colonization,  the  rooms  were  so  crowded  that  from 
1872  to  1875  the  urgent  question  was,  how  to  provide  for 
onr  growing  numbers.  An  eflbrt  which  had  originated 
with  the  Primary  department  met  with  liberal  response; 
yet  these  contributions  would  have  secured  but  a  fraction 
of  the  bare  ground.  This  was  the  prospect  as  the  Sabbath- 
schools  were  holding  their  fifteentli  anniversary,  when  the 


154  Centennial  Memorial. 

problem  was  solved  by  the  generosity  of  a  single  family. 
The  superintendent  then  made  the  gratifying  announce- 
ment that  Messrs.  J.  Donald  Cameron,  Henry  McCormick 
and  James  McCormick  would  purchase  ground  adjoining 
the  property,  and  Mrs.  Eliza  McCormick  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Cameron  would  erect  the  buildings  thereupon.  The  erec- 
tion and  equipment  of  this  stately  and  substantial  building 
cost  $41,600.  How  far  this  thoughtful  liberality  was  justi- 
fied may  be  learned  from  the  then  existing  and  subsequent 
facts.  Year  by  year  the  church  had  gathered  from  the 
Sabbath-school.  Out  of  the  eight  hundred  and  seventy-five 
additions  to  the  membership  of  the  church  during  these 
thirty  years,  seven  hundred  of  the  accessions  had  been 
from  the  Sabbath-school.  Total  membership  of  Sabbath- 
schools  1,927. 

On  December  3,  1874,  Rev.  John  R.  Paxton  was  called  to 
the  pastorate.  He  was  installed  Sabbath  evening  February 
28,  1875.  The  Rev.  Dr.  D.  C.  Marquis,  of  Baltimore, 
preaching  the  sermon  ;  Rev.  T.  H.  Robinson,  of  the  Market 
Square  Church,  giving  the  charge  to  the  Pastor,  and  Dr. 
Cattell  the  charge  to  the  people. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  1875,  the  new  Sabbath-school  build- 
ing was  dedicated.  Addresses  were  made  by  Rev.  S.  A. 
Mutchmore,  D.  D.,  and  Dr.  Cattell,  and  the  Pastor,  Mr. 
Paxton. 

The  church  edifice  was  remodeled  this  year  and  altera- 
tions made,  which  completely  changed  the  interior  and 
added  largely  to  the  comfort  of  the  congregation. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  1878,  Mr.  Paxton  announced  his 
intention  of  asking  Presbytery  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  rela- 


ISf JSfkl^'^sJ  4J^ 


Bethany  Chapel. 

Corner  Cameron  and  Cumberland  Streets. 

ERECTED   1892-93. 


Address  by  Jacob  F.  Seller,  Pli.  D.  155 

tions.  He  had  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  the  New 
York  Avenue  Church,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  following  his 
predecessor  in  the  Pine  Street  Church  to  the  same  pulpit  in 
the  capital  of  the  country.  On  June  20th  the  request  was 
acted  upon  by  the  Presbytery,  and  for  the  fourth  time  in 
twenty  years  the  congregation  was  without  a  pastor. 

Bethany. 

As  early  as  1875,  the  initial  year  of  Mr.  Paxton's  pas- 
torate, an  experimental  Sunday-school  was  located  on  Herr 
street,  above  Eleventh.  Their  first  sessions  were  held  in  an 
unused  church  building  owned  by  a  society  of  United 
Brethren.  This  was  located  beyond  the  canal  in  a  com- 
munity notorious  for  disorder  and  immorality,  and  had  some 
features  of  a  foreign  missionary  enterprise.  Success  began 
to  attend  the  effort,  and  in  the  year  1881  a  substantial  brick 
building  was  erected  at  the  corner  of  Eleventh  and  Herr 
streets.  The  society  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of 
Bethany  Presbyterian  Sabbath-School,  and  the  title  to  the 
property  was  vested  in  the  trustees  of  the  Pine  Street  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Mr.  Samuel  C.  Donovan  was  the  prin- 
cipal promoter  of  this  last  and  very  successful  enterprise. 
Since  December,  1884,  Mr.  Henry  McCormick,  jr.,  has  been 
the  acceptable  superintendent.  Prosperity  attended  the 
enthusiastic  devotion  and  constancy  of  its  officers  and 
teachers  to  such  a  degree  that  it  was  necessary  to  erect  a 
larger  building.  A  new  and  beautiful  edifice  was  built  on 
the  corner  of  Cameron  (formerly  Eleventh)  and  Cumberland 
streets.  The  last  official  report  places  the  number  of  officers, 
teachers  and  scholars  at  4:75.  As  yet  there  is  no  church 
organization. 


156  Centennial  Memorial. 

The  present  Pastor,  Rev.  George  S.  Chambers,  was  called 
September  11,  1879,  accepted  the  call  in  October,  and 
installed  November  11th  of  the  same  year. 

During  Dr.  Chamber's  pastorate  there  has  been  added  to 
the  church  upon  confession  427  persons  ;  by  certificate.  185; 
a  total  of  612  accessions.  The  present  membership,  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1894,  was  724. 

Since  May  22,  1858,  to  this  date,  867  persons  have  been 
admitted  to  church  membership  upon  confession ;  and  631 
by  certificate;  a  total  of  1,498.  The  amount  of  money  con- 
tributed during  these  thirty-five  years  by  the  Pine  Street 
Church  is  as  follows : 

To  Home  Missions,     . $53,012  41 

"  Foreign  Missions, 43,772  21 

"  Education,      14,437  01 

"  Publication, 3,344  50 

"  Church  Erection, 12,450  56 

"  Ministerial  Relief, 13,7J2  10 

"  Freedmen, 6,074  52 

"  Sustenation, 11,077  89 

"  General  Assembly  Fund,     ....        1,015  00 
"  Congregational  Purposes,     ....    227,096  27 

"  Memorial  Fund  in  1871, 12,380  00 

"  Aid  to  Colleges, 36,881  46 

"  Miscellaneous  Charities, 161,615  02 

Total,    . $596,868  95 

Thus  in  accordance  with  the  request  of  your  committee, 
I  have  endeavored  to  set  forth  the  past  work  of  the  Pine 
Street  Church.     Of  the  present  work  something  ought  to  be 


Address  by  Jacob  F.  Seller,  Ph.  D.  157 

briefly  said.  In  the  city  of  New  York  and  elsewhere  cer- 
tain ecclesiastical  societies  have  been  called  "  Institutional 
Churches,"  a  designation  which  characterizes  a  religious 
society  which  conducts  not  only  purely  spiritual  exercises, 
but  which  also  operates  other  agencies,  such  as  educational, 
or  physical,  or  which  administers  to  merely  pleasurable 
emotions  by  furnishing  food  to  the  hungry  and  amusement 
to  the  restless  temptable  crowd.  It  may  be  that  Pine  Street 
will  get  there  in  time.  But  at  present  she  employs  such 
agencies  for  her  improvement,  and  that  of  the  communit}' 
at  large,  as  Missionary  Societies,  Mission  Bands  for  Home 
and  Foreign  work,  Sewing  Schools  for  the  betterment  of  our 
neighbors'  children,  Mothers'  Meeting  for  comfort  and 
encouragement  of  over-worked  mothers.  Choral  Societies, 
and  a  Boys'  Choir  to  lend  their  trained  voices  on  occasions 
ordinary  and  extraordinary,  and  of  course  a  well  organized 
and  enthusiastic  Christian  Endeavor  Society,  a  Beneficial 
Society  for  the  promotion  of  thrift  and  honorable  support 
against  the  day  of  adversity,  besides  her  Home  and  Branch 
Sabbath-Schools  in  which  Pine  Street  feels  a  proper  pride. 
These  agencies  leave  little  talent  unemployed.  The  Sewing 
Schools  of  Pine  Street  and  Bethany  have  on  their  rolls  300 
scholars,  and  the  "  mothers  "  of  the  two  societies  number 
200,  an  aggregate  of  500  to  be  instructed,  cared  for  and  com- 
forted. All  this  imposes  a  great  responsibility  upon  any 
church  committed  to  such  enterprises.  But  good  organiza- 
tion and  capable  management,  developed  by  gradual  expe- 
rience, has  secured  happ}'  results  under  the  blessing  of  God. 
In  complying  with  the  committee's  request  to  "  represent 


158  Centennial  Memorial. 

the  Pine  Street  Church  in  an  address  in  which  the  work  of 
that  church,  past  and  present,  should  be  set  forth,"  it  seemed 
necessary  to  enter  into  such  details  of  statement  as  to  fur- 
nish a  historical  narrative,  based  upon  reliable  records  of 
figures  and  facts.  The  sketch  may  savor  of  vanity,  but  it  is 
written  in  no  such  spirit,  I  am  aware  that  spiritual  results, 
which  are  the  most  valuable,  cannot  be  expressed  by  figures. 
Bible  study,  power  in  prayer,  a  faithful  ministry,  modest 
service,  and  true  consecration  cannot  be  placed  in  tabulated 
columns.  If  the  Pine  Street  Church  has  not  manifested 
these  graces,  she  has  learned  little  of  her  Master  and  failed 
to  catch  the  spirit  of  the  mother  church,  which  has  set  her 
a  noble  example  of  liberal  giving,  pure  devotion,  and  mani- 
fold works  of  love  and  zeal  which  have  adorned  the  history 
of  the  Market  Square  Church  throughout  the  hundred  years 
of  her  sturdy  and  fruitful  existence. 

Note. — The  writer  of  this  article  is  entitled  for  many  of  the  facts 
to  a  discourse  prepared  and  delivered  by  the  Rev.  George  S.  Cham- 
bers, D.  D.,  on  May  20,  1883,  on  the  occasion  of  the  twenty-fifth  anni- 
versary of  the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  West  announced  hymn  No.  93,  vs.  1,  3,  and  the  con- 
gregation, having  risen,  joined  heartily  in  the  singing. 

Saviour,  blessed  Saviour, 

Listen  whilst  we  sing, 
Hearts  and  voices  raising 

Praises  to  our  King. 
All  we  have  to  offer, 

All  we  hope  to  be, 
Body,  soul,  and  spirit. 

All  we  yield  to  thee. 


Address  by  Mr.  Cassius  M.  Brouni.  159 

Great  and  ever  greater 

Are  thy  mercies  here, 
True  and  everlasting 

Are  the  glories  there, 
Where  no  pain,  or  sorrow. 

Toil,  or  care,  is  known. 
Where  the  angel-legions 

Circle  round  thy  throne. 

The  Peesident  of  the  Evening.  Notwithstanding  the 
loss  sustained  in  the  burning  of  its  church  edifice  and  the 
outgoing  of  the  Pine  Street  Church  in  1858,  the  Market 
Square  Church  addressed  itself  to  missionary  work  in  the  city 
and  was  principally  instrumental  in  the  organization  of  the 
Elder  Street  Church.  Though  it  has  never  been  large  in 
number,  that  church  has  always  exercised  great  power  and 
influence  among  the  people  of  that  race  in  our  city.  Mr. 
Cassius  M.  Brown,  an  elder  of  that  church,  will  now  ad- 
dress us. 

Address  by  Mr.  Cassius  M.  Brown. 
AVe  are  glad  to  unite  with  you,  and  to  bring  gratefully  to 
you,  our  garland  of  praise  at  this  Centennial  celebration, 
as  we  recollect  what  you  have  been  and  are  to  us  as  a 
race  and  church  in  the  city  of  Harrisburg,  as  you 
review  your  seed-times  and  liarvests,  your  summers 
and  winters,  your  warfare  and  victory.  In  His  name 
have  you  gone  forth  into  this  community  to  do,  to 
dare,  to  die,  if  need  be,  for  His  work  and  worth.  In 
His  name  you  come  rejoicing  with  all  of  your  offspring, 
bidding  them  welcome,  asking  them  to  bring  some 
signs  of  the  coming  of  His   kingdom.     Our  presence  here 


160  Centennial   Memorial. 

is  a  sign,  suggestive,  helpful ;  founded  upon  principle 
instead  of  policy,  far  reaching  in  its  bearings  and  conse- 
quences, awaiting  greater  reproduction  to  the  glory  of  God, 
our  Father  and  Friend,  and  to  the  better  Christian  develop- 
ment of  many  of  his  sons  and  daughters  in  many  communi- 
ties within  the  territory  of  our  Presbytery,  Synod  and 
General  Assembly.  And  if  our  presence  is  a  sign  of  the 
coming  of  His  kingdom,  surely  the  origin,  growth  and 
present  outlook  of  the  Elder  Street  Presbyterian  Church  and 
Sabbath-school  are  equally  and  even  more  significant  to 
this  end.  A  church  founded  upon  the  Bible  as  the  only 
rule  of  faith  and  practice  must  produce  the  very  best  type 
of  Christianity  in  many  of  its  members.  It  is  not  surpris- 
ing, therefore,  that  as  early  as  1828  God  put  it  into  the 
heart  of  a  Christian  hero,  in  the  person  of  Mr.  Alexander 
Sloan,  of  precious  memory,  a  member  of  your  church,  to 
begin  teaching  a  class  of  boys  in  the  old  Methodist  church, 
which  then  stood  ui:>on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Mulberry 
streets.  Three  years  later,  in  1831,  this  class  was  removed 
to  the  Presbyterian  church,  on  Second  street,  and  there  the 
work  was  continued  until  1836.  For  nearly  twenty  years 
longer  there  was  no  organized  effort  to  teach  the  colored 
people  of  this  community. 

The  unsettled  condition  of  the  Church  brought  about  by 
the  crisis  of  1837-38  may  have  diverted  the  attention  of 
many  of  God's  children  from  more  imj)ortant  work.  The 
Methodist  Church  having  removed  to  the  corner  of  South 
street  and  Tanners  avenue  there  had  been  some  effort  put 
forth  to  organize  a  Sabbath-school,  but  it  resulted  in  failure. 
This  fact  came  to  the  ears  of  some  of  the  former  teachers, 


Elder  Street  Church. 

Corner  Capitol  and  Forster  Srteets. 

ERECTED  1881. 


Address  by  Mr.  Cassius  M.  Brown.  IGl 

and,  the  Holy  Spirit  leading  them  forward  with  some 
others,  upon  the  17th  of  April,  1855,  they  organized  The 
Union  Sabbath-School  Association  of  Harrisburg.  At  the 
end  of  two  years'  labor  the  basement  of  the  church  was  too 
small  for  the  work,  and  a  room,  belonging  to  the  German 
Reformed  Church,  corner  of  Third  and  Chestnut  streets, 
was  secured.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  1857,  the 
colored  public  school  building,  upon  West  avenue,  was 
occupied  by  the  school;  and  in  1858  they  removed  to  the 
old  armor}'^,  on  West  Walnut  street,  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  Haldeman  property.  Up  until  1871  the  school  re- 
tained the  name  of  Union,  since  which  time  it  has  been 
known  as  the  Sabbath-school  of  the  Second,  or  of  the  Elder 
Street  Presbyterian  Church. 

From  a  little  pamphlet  written  by  one  of  the  elders  of  the 
church,  Mr.  George  H.  Imes,  who  departed  this  life  about 
two  years  ago,  we  are  indebted  for  the  following  compilation 
and  words  of  commendation  of  the  men  and  women  to 
whom,  above  all  others,  we  are  indebted  for  religious  train- 
ing, as  founded  upon  the  word  and  works  of  Christ.  At  the 
head  of  this  list  of  teachers  who  gave  their  time  and  talents 
to  this  work  stand  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  Sloan,  Messrs. 
John  C.  Capp,  George  Capp,  Alexander  Graydon,  Sr.,  John 
A.  Weir,  Mordecai  McKinney,  R.  Jackson  Fleming,  Alfred 
Armstrong  and  Mrs.  Alfred  Armstrong,  Mrs.  Dr.  W.  W. 
Ratherford,  Mrs.  R.  Jackson  Fleming,  Mrs.  Harriet  L.  West- 
brook,  Mrs.  Sanders,  Mrs.  Bucher,  Mrs.  Rachael  Fenn,  ]\Irs 
Lydia  Ingram,  Mrs.  Devout  and  Rev.  A.  G.  Simonton  and 
sisters,  Miss  Agnes  Crain,  Miss  Matilda  Elder,  Miss  Boyd, 
Miss  Bucher  and  Miss  Gravbill.     Others  mav  hav3  labored 


162  Centennial  Memorial. 

in  this  part  of  the  Lord's  vineyard  whose  names  we  have 
not  mentioned.  They  were  all,  whether  mentioned  or  not,  a 
noble  army  of  martyrs,  doing  their  duty  as  unto  Christ  and 
not  unto  man.  For,  in  speaking  of  the  conditions  under 
which  this  work  began  and  continued,  Mr.  George  H.  Imes 
says:  "It  is  to  be  remembered  that  this  work  began  in  the 
midst  of  the  terrific  conflict  over  slavery.  The  courage 
that  led  and  the  fortitude  that  sustained  these  noble  men 
and  women  command  our  highest  admiration  and  praise. 
The  hate  toward  them  was  quite  as  bitter  as  against  those 
whom  God  saw  fit  to  make  of  a  different  color.  These  lov- 
ers of  Christ  and  of  men  taught  amid  this  madness  lessons 
of  religion  and  true  liberty.  God's  messengers  were  they  in 
the  gloom  of  the  slave  and  the  peril  of  the  free,  shedding 
holy  rays  from  the  inextinguishable  light  of  the  world." 
During  the  period  from  1828  to  1876  the  total  enrollment  of 
pupils  was  3,250,  the  amount  of  money  contributed  $2,300. 
A  large  number  have  become  teachers,  and  the  most  accurate 
record  we  could  obtain  shows  nearly  1,500  who  are  active 
members  in  some  church.  Since  1876  the  work  has  been 
kept  up  in  the  Sabbath-school,  and  many  have  been  added 
to  the  kingdom  of  God  through  the  precious  truths  of  the 
Bible  by  which  they  know  in  whom  and  what  they  have 
believed.  At  present  there  are  twelve  officers  and  twelve 
teachers  in  the  Sabbath-school,  with  an  average  attendance 
of  about  one  hundred. 

In  1858  the  work  in  the  Sabbath-school  had  produced  a 
Presbyterian  church.  In  the  "  Annals  of  Harrisburg  "  we 
have  the  following  record  :  "  About  the  10th  of  September, 
1857,  Mr.  Joseph  C.  Bustill,  at  the  instance  of  Hon.  Mor- 


Address  by  Mr.  Cassius  M.  Brown.  163 

decai  McKinney,  of  Harrisburg,  called  the  attention  of 
Rev.  Charles  W.  Gardner,  of  riiiladelphia,  to  the  necessity 
of  forming  an  additional  Presbyterian  church  in  Harris- 
burg. Induced  by  this  representation  Rev.  Mr.  Gardner, 
visited  Harrisburg  on  the  20th  of  September  and  conferred 
with  Rev.  Dr.  W.  R.  DeWitt  and  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robin- 
son, and  the  Presbyterians  of  the  first  churcli  upon  the 
subject,  who  experienced  a  lively  interest  in  the  matter, 
and  promised  to  extend  liberal  aid  to  the  enterprise,  pro- 
vided a  suitable  place  for  worship  could  be  procured." 
The  great  financial  troubles  which  at  this  period  prevailed 
throughout  the  country,  however,  caused  a  suspension  of  the 
project  until  the  spring  of  1858,  at  which  time  several 
members  of  the  proposed  congregation  rented  the  large 
and  commodious  room  in  the  second  story  of  the  brick 
building  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Walnut  street  and 
River  alley  which  was  fitted  up  as  a  place  of  worship  for 
the  congregation.  Therein  divine  services  were  held  every 
Sabbath  under  the  direction  of  the  Reverend  Doctors 
DeWitt  and  Robinson. 

The  congregation  thus  formed  invited  the  Rev.  Charles 
W.  Gardner,  who  had  returned  to  Philadelphia,  to  under- 
take charge  of  the  work.  This  gentleman  accepted  the 
invitation  and  arrived  in  Harrisburg  April  the  9th,  and 
preached  his  first  sermon  on  Sabbath,  April  11th,  ]S58.  On 
the  14th  of  October  of  the  same  year,  the  congregation  sent 
a  petition  to  the  Presbytery  of  Harrisburg  asking  to  be 
regularly  organized,  wliicli  was  granted.  On  the  27th  of 
the  same  month  a  committee  of  the  Presbytery  met  at  the 
church  in  Walnut  street  to  perform   tliat  duty.     The  Rev. 


164  Centennial  Memorial. 

William  R.  DeWitt,  D.  D.,  presided  An  appropriate  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Conway  P.  Wing,  D.  D., 
from  the  following  text,  "  And  I  say  also  unto  thee.  That 
thou  art  Peter,  and  upon  this  rock  I  will  build  my  church ; 
and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it  "  (Matt.  16 : 
18).  The  Rev.  James  Calder,  since  deceased,  of  the  Fourth 
Street  Bethel  Church,  was  present  and  offered  an  impressive 
prayer. 

At  7  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  following  named  persons  were  duly 
organized  into  a  church,  viz :  Jeremiah  Kelly,  Hannah 
Kelly,  Hiram  Baker,  Nancy  Christ}^  Matilda  Greenly, 
Zillah  Galloway,  Sarah  Hawkins,  Curry  Taylor,  Sr.,  Eliza- 
beth Taylor,  William  White,  Sarah  Kelly  and  Hannah 
Humphreys,  all  of  whom  were  received  upon  profession  of 
faith,  except  Nancy  Christy,  who  presented  a  certificate  from 
the  Presbyterian  church,  of  Mercersburg,  Pa.  JBremiah 
Kelly  and  Hiram  Baker  were  respectively  ordained  as  rul- 
ing elders.  The  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Harrisburg 
was  chosen  as  a  name  for  the  new  organizatton.  After  the 
organization  of  the  church,  addresses  were  made  by  Rev. 
William  R.  DeWitt,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Conway  P.  Wing,  D.  D., 
and  Rev.  John  W.  Davis.  The  church  made  immediate 
application  to  the  Presbytery  to  be  supplied  with  ministerial 
services  for  the  ensuing  six  months,  whereupon  the  Rev. 
Charles  W.  Gardner  was  selected  to  supply  them. 

The  history  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  has  the 
following  record  of  pastors  and  stated  supplies  down  to 
the  present : 

Rev.  Chas.  W.  Gardner,  S.  S.,  1858-1863. 


Address  by  Mr.  Cassius  M.  Brown.  165 

Hiram  Baker,*  S.  S.,  1863-1869. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Cole,  S.  S.,  1870-1872. 

Rev.  Hiram  Baker,  Pastor,  1872-1875. 

Rev.  Isaac  W.  Davenport,  Pastor,  1875-1877. 

Rev.  George  M.  Bonner,  Pastor,  1877-1883. 

Rev.  Lawrence  Miller,  Pastor,  1884-1885. 

Rev.  Reuben  H.  Armstrong,  Pastor,  1886- 

The  Elder  Street  Presbyterian  congregation  has  had  two 
church  buildings.  The  first  was  a  frame  structure.  Not 
quite  as  large  as  the  present  building,  located  on  the  same 
lot  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Elder,  now  Capitol,  and 
Forster  streets.  It  was  erected  in  1S6G.  The  second,  a 
substantial  stone  building  with  a  seating  capacity  of  about 
three  hundred  which  was  built  in  1881,  a  year  after  the 
first  building  was  burned.  During  the  interim  that  inter- 
vened between  the  burning  of  the  first  and  the  building 
of  the  second  structure,  the  congregation,  through  the 
Christian  fraternity  of  the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian  Church, 
worshiped  in  their  lecture  room.  We  record  this  with  most 
grateful  remembrance  of  the  same,  and  of  other  substantial 
and  liberal  aid  extended  to  our  congregation  by  the  above 
church  and  many  of  its  most  active  members. 

Feeling  that  we  have  probably  taken  more  than  our  share 
of  your  precious  time  we  close  with  a  statement,  slightly 
modified,  made  b}'  our  present  pastor  upon  another  occa- 
sion. During  thirty-six  years  the  Elder  Street  Presbyterian 
Church  has  been  preaching  the  blessed  gospel  of  the  Son  of 

*He  was  one  of  the  first  Elders  of  this  church.  He  subsequently 
studied  for  the  Ministry  of  the  Gospel,  and  in  1863  was  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Harrisburg  to  preach. — Editor. 


166  Centennial  Memorial. 

God  to  a  most  needy  people,  a  people  that  the  Presbj'^terian 
church  can  and  must  reach,  both  North  and  South,  East 
and  West,  if  she  believes  her  doctrines  to  be  Biblical,  as  she 
does,  and  is  ready  to  defend.  She  is  a  church,  therefore, 
adapted  to  all  people,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the  learned 
and  the  illiterate.  The  Elder  Street  Church  has  done  a 
work  in  this  community  which  can  never  be  fully  described 
nor  appreciated  in  this  life.  Over  two  hundred  have  united 
with  the  church,  while  thousands  have  been  taught  in  the 
Sabbath -school,  helped,  cheered  and  led  to  Christ  by  the  min- 
istry of  her  pastors  and  stated  supplies,  that  are  not  mem- 
bers of  our  communion  or  denomination,  but  of  a  greater 
communion,  fellowship  with  God,  with  Christ  and  with  the 
Holy  Spirit.  We  come  to  you,  therefore,  with  grateful 
hearts.  We  come  from  the  field  of  battle,  not  upon  our 
shields,  but  with  them  in  our  hands,  the  Presbyterian 
shields,  which  have  served  us  in  many  conflicts,  not  less 
because  they  are  of  the  blue  stocking  material,  but  more 
because  they  are  Biblical,  and  are  used  in  His  name,  to  His 
glory.  If  we  are  thankful  to  God  for  the  past,  with  its 
fruitage  ;  if  we  rejoice  at  our  present  vantage  ground,  if  we 
are  hopeful  for  the  future  and  will  follow  where  He  leads, 
"  keeping  close  to  Jesus  all  the  way,"  no  mind  can  conceive, 
no  pen  can  picture  what  shall  be  your  glory,  who  gave  us 
being.  We  rejoice  with  you,  whom  our  Father  has  highl}^ 
honored  in  this  community,  and  bid  you  God  speed. 

At  this  date,  February  14th,  1894,  the  following  are 
the  officers  and  membership  of  Elder  Street  Church  and 
Sabbath-school : 

Rev.  Reuben  H.  Armstrong,  Pastor ;  Thomas  J.  Miller, 


Address  by  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Garland.  167 

William  J.  Adore,  Cassius  M.  Brown,  Turner  Cooper  Sr.„ 
and  Walter  W.  Williams,  Elders ;  James  W.  H.  Howard, 
John  Zedricks,  Henry  Coslow,  W.  W.  Williams,  Turner 
Cooper,  Jr.,  Singleton  G.  Brown,  Trustees. 

Communicant  members,  sixty-five.  Sabbath-school  mem- 
bership enrolled,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

The  President  of  the  Evening.  In  1866,  under  the 
leadership  of  Dr.  Curwen,  then  superintendent  of  the  Luna- 
tic Hospital  and  a  member  of  the  Pine  Street  Church,  the 
church  which  was  known  until  latel}'  as  the  Seventh  Street 
Church  was  organized.  For  long  years  Dr.  Curwen  was  the 
sole  elder  and  almost  the  sole  supporter  of  the  church.  On 
account  of  the  location,  it  never  prospered  to  any  large  ex- 
tent, but  since  a  more  eligible  site  has  been  secured  and  the 
church  has  been  removed,  new  prosperity  seems  to  find  en- 
trance to  those  engaged  in  that  work.  So  that  we  trust 
there  is  before  it  a  prosperous  and  successful  future.  God 
in  his  providence  recently  took  awa}'  the  beloved  pastor  of 
that  church,  and  this  evening  the  representative  of  it  in 
the  person  of  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Garland,  an  elder,  will  give  us 
a  short  account  of  its  history. 

Address  by  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Garland. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1865,  Dr.  John  Curwen  conceived 
the  idea  of  organizing  a  Presbyterian  church  in  the  extreme 
western  suburbs  of  Harrisburg.  Accordingly  ground  was 
secured  and  a  building  erected  on  the  site  of  what  is  now 
known  as  the  corner  of  Seventh  and  Peffer  streets. 

The  church  building  was  completed  and  ready  for  occu- 
pancy  on   July   21,   1866.      The   vicinity   of    the   church 


168  Centennial  Memorial. 

property  was  but  thiiil}^  settled  and  the  congregation  con- 
sisted chiefly  of  inmates  and  attendants  of  the  insane  hospital 
of  which  Dr.  Curwen  was  then  superintendent. 

This  church  was  then  known  as  the  Seventh  Street 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  Harrisburg. 

Prior  to  this  at  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle, 
held  in  the  Big  Spring  Church,  of  Newville,  April  11,  1866, 
a  committee*  was  appointed  to  organize  a  church  in  Har- 
risburg, provided  the  way  to  accomplish  this  end  be  clear. 
The  committee  met  for  this  purpose  Saturday,  September 
8,  1866,  and  an  organization  was  effected,  the  following 
persons  presenting  letters:  Dr.  John  Curwen  and  wife, 
Annie  Stewart,  Mary  Stewart,  Mary  McCullom  and  Eliza  M- 
Todd  from  the  church  of  Harrisburg;  Dr.  Graydon  B. 
Hotchkin  and  wife  from  the  church  of  Middletown,  Dela- 
ware county,  and  Mrs.  Margaret  Cassady  from  the  Presby- 
terian church  of  Letter-Kenny,  Ireland.  These  certificates 
having  been  found  in  order,  the  committee  passed  the  fol- 
lowing resolution : 

"Resolved,  That  the  above  persons,  nine  in  all,  be  and 
are  constituted  into  a  church,  to  be  known  as  the  Seventh 
Street  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Harrisburg;  to  be  connected 
with  and  under  the  government  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle, 
Synod  of  Baltimore  and  General  Assembly  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  of  the  United  States  of  America." 

A  congregational  meeting  was  immediately  called  for  the 

*The  Cotumittee  consisted  of  Rev.  James  Harper,  D.  D.,  Rev.  J.  C. 
Bliss,  Rev.  Samuel  S.  Mitchell,  Rev.  A.  D.  Mitchell,  Elders  H.  Mur- 
ray Graydon  and  James  Elder.  Mr.  Bliss  and  Mr.  Elder  failed  to 
serve.— Editor. 


Covenant  Presbyterian  Church. 

Corner  Fifth  and  Peffer  Streets. 

ERECTED  1894. 


Add7'ess  by  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Garland.  169 

purpose  of  electing  a  ruling  elder ;  Dr.  Curwen  was  unani- 
mously chosen  for  that  office.  Of  the  original  members, 
but  one  name,  that  of  Dr.  Curwen,  remains  on  the  church 
roll.  He  is  still  a  ruling  elder  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
the  church  work  at  the  present  time,  although  having  his 
residence  at  Warren.  Soon  after  the  organization  of  the 
church  a  Sabbath-school  was  organized  ;  a  corps  of  teachers 
coming  from  the  older  churches  in  the  city,  assisted  greatly 
in  making  the  Sabbath-school  a  success,  and  were  a  power 
in  upbuilding  the  church  congregation. 

The  church  was  served  by  different  ministers,*  until  the 
spring  of  1868,  when  the  Rev.  Charles  A.  Wyeth  began  to 
act  as  stated  supply,  serving  in  that  capacity  for  two  years, 
when  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  called  March  5th, 
1870,  at  which  he  was  unanimously  elected  regular  pastor. 

Accejiting  this  flattering  vote  of  the  church  for  a  con- 
tinuance of  his  labors,  he  was  duly  installed  on  the 
26th  of  June,  1870,  serving  for  thirteen  years  in  this 
capacity.  The  Presbytery  dissolved  the  pastoral  relation  at 
his  request,  June  12th,  1883.  Mr.  Wyeth  removed  to 
Warren,  and  died  there  August  2d,  1889.  His  name  and 
memory  are  held  in  the  highest  esteem  b}''  those  of  our 
church  who  knew  him  as  its  pastor. 

A  memorial  window  has  been  placed  in  our  new  edifice 
in  his  memory. 

Owing  to  the  removal  of  Dr.  Curwen  to  Warren,  and  to 
the  withdrawal  of  many  of  the  workers  in  our  church  Avho 

*  These  were  Rev.  Ambrose  C.  Smith,  now  of  Fairfield,  Iowa  ;  Rev. 
Stephen  W.  Pomeroy,  now  of  Mill  Hall,  Pa..,  and  Rev.  William  A. 
McAtee,  now  of  Danville.  Pa. — Editor. 


170  Centennial  Memorial. 

were  members  of  the  older  churches,  upon  the  departure  of 
Dr.  Wyeth,  the  tide  of  prosperous  Presbyterianism  seemed 
sadly  on  the  ebb  in  West  Harrisburg  at  this  time. 

Fortunately  the  church  had  remaining  a  few  unshattered 
hopes  in  the  person  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Stewart,  Mr.  David  Dunlap 
and  Mr.  William  Wolfe.  These  three,  whose  interest  in 
restoring  the  church  work  to  its  former  prosperity  was 
unflagging,  held  a  conference  with  Mr.  Gilbert  M.  McCau- 
ley,  an  elder  in  the  Market  Square  Church,  and  a  man  of 
untiring  energy,  which  gave  new  life  and  inspiration  to  the 
work  of  re-organization. 

The  services  of  Mr.  John  H.  Groff,  a  member  of  Market 
Square  Church,  were  secured  as  supply  for  the  pulpit. 
Teachers  for  the  Sabbath-school  offered  their  services  once 
more,  and  they  were  gratefully  accepted.  These  devoted 
persons  served  in  this  way  until  the  fall  of  1887,  when  the 
church  was  enabled  to  supply  teachers  of  its  own,  and  in 
this  manner  the  work  was  greatly  revived. 

Mr.  John  H.  Groff  served  the  church  until  the  spring  of 
1886,  at  which  time  he  took  charge  of  the  Steelton  and 
Middletown  churches.  His  earnest  Christian  character 
coupled  with  a  loving,  sympathetic  nature,  left  him  many 
fast  friends  in  the  church  and  Sabbath-school. 

During  the  summer  of  1886  the  church  was  very  accept- 
ably supplied  by  the  Rev.  Matthew  Rutherford,  a  student 
in  Allegheny  Theological  Seminary,  and  now  Pastor  of  the 
church  at  Avalon,  Pa. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1887,  Rev.  I.  Potter  Hayes  began 
his  ministry,  and  with  convincing  eloquence  and  untiring 


Address  by  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Garland.  171 

effort  he  aroused  the  congregation  to  a  sense  of  their  per- 
sonal obligations. 

The  church  was  re-carpeted,  painted  and  papered,  a  new 
organ  purchased  and  the  Sabbath-school  made  self-support- 
ing. But  it  soon  became  evident,  on  account  of  the 
encroachment  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  yards,  with  the 
noise  and  confusion  incident  thereto,  that  the  progress  of 
the  church  work  must  be  greatly  retarded.  With  his  usual 
energy  Mr.  Hayes  set  about  securing  another  location. 
Here  again  Dr.  Curwen  showed  that  amid  his  manifold 
duties  as  Superintendent  of  the  Warren  Hospital,  he  still 
held  the  interest  of  this  church  at  heart,  and  came  nobly 
to  its  assistance.  A  fine  plot  of  ground,  corner  of  Fifth 
and  Peffer  streets,  the  present  location  of  the  church  was 
secured,  and  the  church  removed  to  its  new  location 
August,  1888,  and  its  named  changed  from  that  of  Seventh 
Street  Presbyterian  Church  to  Covenant  Presbyterian  Church. 

Here  the  work  of  the  church  was  greatly  enlarged,  in  the 
midst  of  a  growing  community.  The  pastor  and  people 
were  kept  busy  re-organizing  the  Sabbath-school  and  other 
work  to  meet  their  pressing  needs.  The  work  of  God's  spirit 
began  to  manifest  itself  and  the  long  and  arduous  work  of 
pastor  and  people  began  to  bear  fruit.  A  few  months  before 
Mr.  Hayes  removed  to  Wrightsville  a  gracious  revival  took 
place  and  many  were  brought  to  Christ.  More  than  two 
score  of  people  were  at  this  time  added  to  the  church.  Mr. 
Hayes  served  the  church  until  March  loth,  1891,  when  he 
took  charge  of  the  church  at  Wrightsville.  Mr.  Hayes's 
work  was  of  the  highest  order.  Having  found  the 
church  in  a   poor  location   with  a  meager  working  force. 


172  Centennial  Memorial. 

he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  his  efforts  crowned 
with  success ;  the  church  liaving  been  removed  to  one  of 
the  most  desirable  locations  in  the  city,  its  membership 
united  and  largely  increased — the  working  force  was  almost 
doubled — two  ruling  elders  having  been  added,  thus  in- 
creasing the  number  of  elders  to  five ;  the  board  of  trustees 
having  been  re-organized  and  increased  to  five.  Thus  he 
left  the  church  in  excellent  condition  for  future  work. 

But  the  church  had  many  trials  before  it,  and  not  the 
least  of  its  many  was  the  selection  of  a  pastor.  Finally  at 
a  congregational  meeting  held  May  1st,  1891,  Rev.  Charles 
A.  Evans  was  given  a  call.  Mr.  Evans  took  charge  of  the 
work  and  served  as  a  supply  until  October  1st,  1892,  when 
he  removed  to  Rochester,  New  York. 

The  church  was  again  thrown  upon  its  own  resources,  a 
flock  without  an  under-shepherd.  However,  at  a  meeting 
held  January  13,  1893,  the  *Rev.  Robert  Cochran  was  elected 
Pastor.  Mr.  Cochran  was  well  known  to  most  of  the  mem- 
bers of  our  church  and  was  well  received.  He  took  up  the 
work  in  a  vigorous  way,  entering  into  it  with  his  whole 
heart  and  being  sustained  by  his  peoj^le.  The  church  began 
to  revive,  and  with  the  advent  of  each  communion  service, 
the  church  received  additional  names  to  its  roll.  The  Sab- 
bath-school, with  a  Primary  department,  was  brought  to  a 
high  pos  tion  of  influence  and  usefulness.  The  result  of  the 
work  done  there  bringing  many  to  Christ  and  into  the 
membership  of  the  church.  The  Christian  Endeavor 
Society  was  re-organized  and  is  at  present  doing  faithful  and 
efficient  work  among  the  young  people  of  the  church  and 
community.     Mr.   Cochran's  work   was  of  the  evangelistic 


Address  by  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Garland.  173 

order,  his  earnest  efforts  being  to  point  his  hearers  to  Christ. 
In  this  work  he  was  signally  successful.  He  gave  himself 
to  the  Lord  and  the  Lord  used  him  for  the  upbuilding  of 
his  cause. 

It  soon  became  evident  to  the  Church  Session  that  more 
room  was  necessary  for  Sabbath-school  and  church  work. 
After  due  consideration  it  was  decided  to  appoint  a  build- 
ing committee,  empowering  them  to  do  what  to  them  seemed 
best  in  the  way  of  improvements.  The  result  of  their  delib- 
erations and  labors  is  our  new  and  beautiful  church  edifice, 
including  a  model  Sabbath-school  room. 

Mr.  Cochran  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  secure  for  us 
this  new  home.  That  the  work  of  progress  was  hampered 
in  our  old  building  was  not  the  only  reason  that  we  were 
inspired  to  erect  a  new  and  larger  building.  By  the  law  of 
competition,  mixed  with  a  little  pardonable  Presbyterian 
pride,  we  were  compelled,  in  view  of  the  growth  of  the  com- 
munity and  churches  of  other  denominations  in  our  vicinity, 
to  keep  pace  with  our  neighbors  and  make  our  surround- 
ings as  comfortable  and  pleasant  as  theirs.  Therefore  our 
pastor  and  people  determined  to  make  a  strong  and  united 
effort  to  secure  better  facilities  whereby  to  carry  forward  our 
work.  The  work  of  building  was  begun  July,  1893,  and 
was  pushed  forward  rapidly.  All  our  people  were  looking 
forward  eagerly  for  its  completion.  Already  plans  had  been 
laid  by  our  pastor  for  the  extension  of  the  work.  The  fond 
dreams  of  our  people  seemed  about  to  be  realized,  when 
suddenly,  like  a  thunderbolt  out  of  a  clear  sky,  a  great 
cloud  rested  on  our  church  and  people.  That  dread  disease, 
typhoid   fever,  laid  its  grasp   on   our   beloved  pastor  and 


174  Centennial  Memorial. 

leader,  when  apparently  in  robust  health.  In  his  pastoral 
work  this  malignant  disease  had  no  terrors  for  him.  He 
did  not  hesitate  to  enter  the  afflicted  homes  to  minister  to 
those  who  were  its  sufferers. 

Having  consecrated  himself  to  the  Master's  work,  he  had 
placed  his  life  in  the  Master's  keeping,  and  when  called,  he 
was  ready  with  the  answer,  "  Speak,  Lord,  thy  servant  hear- 
eth."  The  Master  in  his  infinite  wisdom  removed  him  from 
his  labors  October  15,  1893.  Our  people  bowing  their 
heads  in  sorrowful  submission,  said,  "  Thy  will  be  done,  not 
ours,  0  Lord."  For  a  time  it  seemed  that  we  could  not 
withstand  the  shock  occasioned  by  this  severe  blow,  but  we 
turned  to  his  word  and  met  with  the  passage,  "  Whom  the 
Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth."  Taking  up  the  work  again  we 
were  greatly  encouraged  by  our  Moderator,  Rev.  D.  M- 
Skilling,  who  was  appointed  by  Presbytery  immediately 
after  the  death  of  our  Pastor. 

Mr.  Cochran,  by  his  earnest  Christian  example,  furnished 
a  fine  object  lesson  to  his  people  and  the  community  of 
what  a  thoroughly  consecrated  man  can  do.  Having  by 
precept  and  example,  endeavored  to  lead  his  people  near 
to  Christ,  when  he  was  so  suddenly  called  away,  he  left 
them  a  united  praying  people,  ready  to  do  the  Master's 
work  whenever  called  upon  to  do  it.  The  large  and 
beautiful  memorial  window  erected  to  his  memory  in 
our  new  church  was  placed  there  by  his  brother  ministers 
of  the  Presbytery. 

Our  past  has  been  an  eventful  one,  and  one  full  of 
affliction,  but  we  think  we  can  see  a  break  in  the  clouds. 
Our  church  is  practically  finished  and  furnished  at  a  cost 


Address  by  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Garland.  175 

of  $8,500.00.  This  is  not  all  provided  for,  and  owing  to 
the  stringency  of  the  times,  the  money  is  coming  in  slowly. 
But  we  have  faith  that  ways  and  means  will  be  provided 
in  the  not  far  future  to  cover  our  indebtedness.  With  the 
debt  properly  secured  we  expect  to  dedicate  our  church  in 
the  early  spring. 

At  a  meeting  held  January  3d,  1894,  the  Rev.  Curtis 
0.  Bosserman,  a  student  in  the  Senior  class  of  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary  and  a  licentiate  of  this  Presbytery, 
was  given  a  unanimous  call.  Mr.  Bosserman  comes  to  us 
highly  recommended  by  his  Professors,  and  our  people  are 
ready  and  anxious  to  labor  with  him  in  the  upbuilding  of 
the  Master's  kingdom. 

With  a  new  and  modern  church  building,  a  united  and 
working  congregation,  a  live  Sabbath-school,  having  a 
good  circulating  library,  a  consecrated  Christian  Endeavor 
Society,  a  well  organized  and  thoroughly  equipped  Ladies' 
Aid  Society,  a  strong  choir,  and  a  talented  and  consecrated 
minister,  M^e  anticipate,  and  pray  for,  a  bright  future  for 
Covenant  Church. 

The  President  of  the  Evening.  On  the  first  Sabbath 
of  February,  1873,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Market  Square 
and  Pine  Street  Churches,  with  Doctors  Robinson  and 
Strong  at  their  head,  mission  work  was  undertaken  in 
Harrisburg.  Services  were  held  in  the  evening  in  a  room 
at  the  market-house  on  Broad  street  and  in  the  morning  in 
the  Chapel  at  Lochiel.  In  the  following  June  an  organiza- 
tion was  effected  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city.  That  is  just 
twenty-one  years  ago,  and  the  church  is  of  age,  and,  there- 


176  Centennial  Memorial. 

fore,  can  speak  for  itself  in  the  person  of  its  present  pastor, 
Rev.  George  S.  Duncan. 

Address  by  Rev.  George  S.  Duncan. 

The  Westminster  Church  to  the  Market  Square  Church 
"  which  is  in  God  the  Father  and  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ : 
Grace  be  unto  you,  and  peace  from  God  our  Father  and  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ."  We  remember  "  without  ceasing  your 
work  of  faith,  and  labor  of  love,  and  patience  of  hope  in 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  sight  of  God  and  our  Father." 
As  you  enter  the  second  century  of  your  history,  "  may  the 
Lord  bless  thee  and  keep  thee ;  may  the  Lord  make  his 
face  shine  upon  thee ;  may  the  Lord  lift  up  his  countenance 
upon  thee,  and  give  thee  peace."     Amen. 

It  seems  fitting  on  this  Centennial  occasion  that  a  brief 
history  of  the  Westminster  Church  should  be  given.  Its 
organization  was  due  to  the  joint  efforts  of  the  Pine  Street 
and  Market  Square  Churches.  In  the  year  1866  there  is  said 
to  have  been  but  one  church  above  North  street  in  this  city. 
It  was  felt  by  many  that  some  form  of  Christian  work 
should  be  done  in  the  northwest  portion  of  the  town.  The 
population  was  steadily  growing  year  by  year  and  there 
were  no  churches  in  the  communit3^ 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  in  January, 
1867,  organized  a  Sunday-school  on  the  second  floor  of  the 
stone  market  hall  on  Broad  street.  The  officers  and 
teachers  were  mostly  young  men,  members  of  the  Associa- 
tion. The  Sunday-school  was  undenominational.  There 
were  about  twenty-five  present  at  the  first  session.  The 
first   superintendent   was  Mr.  J.  Samuel  Detweiler,  now  a 


o    s 


5 


Address  by  Rev.  George  S.  Duncan.  177 

minister  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  The  school  steadily 
grew  in  numbers  and  others,  both  young  men  and  women, 
joined  the  number  of  workers.  The  quarters  then  occupied 
were  found  to  be  wholly  too  small  and  the  public  school 
house  on  the  corner  of  Second  and  Broad  streets  was 
rented.  The  Sunday-school  now  had  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  scholars.  Mr.  John  A.  Borland  was  the  second 
superintendent.  This  place  also  was  soon  found  to  be 
insufficient  to  seat  the  members  of  this  growing  school. 
Another  flitting  took  place  to  the  public  school  building  at 
126  Broad  street.  Here  the  Sunday-school  numbered  about 
three  hundred  scholars.  The  third  superintendent  was 
Mr.  Walter  F.  Fahnestock,  Sr.,  a  member  of  Market  Square 
Church.     He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Martin  Stutzman. 

Both  churches  felt  that  a  Presbyterian  church  was 
needed  in  this  portion  of  Harrisburg,  and  at  once  took 
measures  to  provide  for  preaching  services.  My  beloved 
predecessor  in  the  Westminster  pastorate,  the  Rev.  William 
A.  West,  was  called  to  the  work,  and  began  his  labors  on 
the  evening  of  February  2d,  1873.  At  this  first  preaching 
service  there  were  about  seven  adults  and  a  dozen  of  mission 
school  boys.  The  preaching  service  was  liekl  every  Sunday 
evening  in  the  rooms  of  the  market  hall.  At  a  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  held  in  Newville  on  June  10th, 
1873,  a  paper  signed  by  forty-seven  persons  residing  in 
West  Harrisburg  was  presented,  asking  the  appointment  of 
a  committee  to  visit  the  field  and  organize  a  clmrch  if  the 
way  be  clear.  The  request  was  granted,  and  Rev.  Addison 
K.  Strong,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  D.  D.,  Rev. 
Charles  A.  Wyeth,  with  Ruling  Elders  James  McCormick, 


178  Centennial  Memorial. 

John  A.  Weir  and  John  Curwen  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee. The  committee  met  on  Thursday  evening,  June 
19th,  1873,  in  the  rooms  over  the  old  Market  Hall,  and 
after  appropriate  religious  services  proceeded  to  organize  a 
church  in  the  usual  manner.  Thirty-one  persons  were 
enrolled  on  certificate  from  other  churches,  and  four  were 
received  on  profession  of  their  faith.  Four  elders  were 
elected,  namely,  John  L.  Crist,  Robert  Trotter,  William 
Jones  and  John  E.  Patterson.  These  were  ordained  on  Sep- 
tember 25th. 

At  a  congregational  meeting  held  on  September  11th  the 
name  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  was  adopted.  The 
first  communion  service  was  held  on  September  28th.  The 
need  of  a  church  edifice  was  keenly  felt  if  the  congregation 
was  to  prosper.  A  plot  of  ground  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  Reily  and  Green  streets  was  donated  by  Miss  Rebecca  L. 
Reily,  a  member  of  Market  Square  Church.  Here  a  two- 
story  brick  chapel,  thirty-three  by  seventy-three  feet,  was 
erected  in  the  summer  of  1874.  After  worshiping  for  one 
year  and  nine  months  in  the  old  market  hall  rooms,  the 
congregation  moved  into  their  new  building,  which  was 
formally  opened  on  the  evening  of  October  27,  1874.  Here 
the  congregation  and  Sunday-school  steadily  grew  in 
numbers. 

Rev.  William  A.  West  resigned  his  charge  at  Westminster 
at  the  spring  meeting  of  Presbytery  in  1890.  Immediately 
thereafter  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  George  S.  Duncan,  was 
called  to  and  accepted  the  j^astorate.  His  installation  took 
place  on  the  evening  of  July  1,  1890.  It  soon  became  evi- 
dent that  if  the  work  was  to  prosper  a  large  and  attractive 


Address  by  Rev.  George  S.  Duncan.  179 

church  building  was  necessary.  At  the  annual  congrega- 
tional meeting  in  February,  1892,  it  was  unanimously 
decided  to  take  steps  for  the  erection  of  a  new  church  build- 
ing. The  designs  submitted  by  Charles  W.  Bolton,  of 
Philadelphia,  were  accepted  and  work  on  the  new  edifice 
was  begun  in  August,  1892.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  on 
November  26,  1892,  when  all  the  Presbyterian  ministers 
took  part  in  the  services.  The  work  has  gone  on  ever  since 
and  in  a  few  weeks  the  church  will  be  completed.  The 
dedication  services  will  be  held  in  May.  The  edifice  is  of 
undressed  brown  stone  from  the  Walton  quarries  at  Hum- 
melstown  and  built  in  the  Gothic  st}  le  of  architecture.  The 
main  audience  room  will  seat  1,200  people,  including  the 
gallery,  which  is  entered  by  two  large  stairways.  Back  of 
the  pulpit  is  the  choir  and  organ  chamber,  which  is  enclosed 
with  a  handsome  arcade.  The  floor  slopes  toward  the 
pulpit  and  the  seats  are  arranged  in  arcs  of  circles.  The 
audience  room  will  be  finished  in  oak.  To  the  right  of  the 
preacher  standing  in  the  pulpit  is  the  Sunday-school  build- 
ing, all  of  which  can  be  thrown  into  full  view  of  the  pulpit 
b}''  opening  roller  blinds.  The  first  floor  has  a  main  Sun- 
day-school room,  infant  room,  two  class  rooms  and  a  library. 
There  is  also  a  gallery  with  four  class  room,  all  of  which 
can  be  thrown  into  the  main  room  when  occasion  requires. 
The  basement  under  the  Sunday-school  room  will  be  fitted 
up  with  a  kitchen,  dining  room  and  a  reading  room,  to  be 
open  every  evening.  When  the  new  building  is  completed 
a  new  era  will  dawn  for  the  congregation,  for  the  work, 
heretofore  for  lack  of  room,  has  been  very  much  crippled. 
The  growth  of  the  city  in  the  northwest  end  of  Harrisburg 


180  Centennial  Menurial. 

will  also  be  a  most  important  factor  in  the  success  of  the 
church. 

Every  department  of  the  church  is  in  a  most  flourishing 
condition.  The  ruling  elders  are  John  E.  Patterson,  William 
Jones,  David  R.  Elder,  J.  Wallace  Elder  and  John  E. 
Daniel.  The  trustees  are  Harry  Miller,  J.  Nelson  Clark,  W. 
S.  Black,  M.  G.  Baker,  George  E.  Hackett,  A.  B.  Tack,  Wm. 
A.  Moorehead. 

The  President  op  the  Evening.  The  Olivet  Church  in 
East  Harrisburg  is  the  youngest  of  the  family  of  Presby- 
terian churches,  and  it  is  an  important  field  that  they 
occupy.  We  trust  it  has  a  future  of  great  usefulness  and 
of  great  prosperity.  The  pastor,  Mr.  William  P.  Patterson, 
will  give  a  sketch  of  that  church. 

Address  by  Rev.  William  P.  Patterson. 

Mr.  Chairman,  Brethren  and  Friends  of  the  Market 
Square  Church  :  I  esteem  it  a  privilege  to  represent,  as  I 
do  to-night,  the  little  church  upon  Allison's  Hill ;  and  I 
wish  to  say  in  the  very  beginning  of  my  remarks  that,  in 
the  offering  of  the  ver}'  hearty  congratulations  of  this  most 
joyous  Centennial  season,  the  pastor,  officers  and  members 
of  the  Olivet  congregation  desire  to  have  no  small  share. 

We  join  with  the  entire  Presbyterian  community  in  ren- 
dering sincere  thanks  to  an  all-good  and  gracious  God,  that 
this  anniversary  occasion  is  permitted  to  transpire ;  and  we 
would  praise  Him,  with  heart  and  voice,  for  His  favor  dur- 
ing these  two  jubilees  of  years,  and  for  the  rare  success,  in 
His  cause,  He  has  enabled  His  people  to  achieve.  We  are 
deeply  impressed  with  the  fact  that  here  a  church  of  Jesus 


Address  by  Rev.  William  P.  Patterson.  181 

Christ,  a  congregation  in  our  beloved  communion,  has  been 
drawn  together  to  engage  in  the  pure  worship  of  Ahnighty 
God  for  the  space  of  a  century.  We  think  of  the  hundreds 
of  Sabbatlis  in  that  century,  of  the  heavenly  atmosphere 
encompassing  the  people  of  God  as,  obedient  to  the  divine 
command,  they  have  assembled  to  reverence  Him,  and  to 
seek  His  guidance  and  blessing  in  the  varied  walks  of  the 
daily  life. 

We  rejoice  greatly  in  the  amount  of  truth,  profitable  for 
doctrine,  for  reproof,  and  for  instruction  in  righteousness, 
which  has  been  proclaimed  in  the  thousands  of  sermons 
and  other  religious  discourses  delivered  here.  Hallowed 
spot,  verily  where  the  voice  of  instruction,  of  admonition,  of 
comfort,  and  of  peace  has  been  so  long  heard  ! 

And  with  what  an  atmosphere  of  prayer  are  we  sur- 
rounded to-night!  Can  it  be  that  the  prayers  of  God's 
people  spend  their  force  in  the  moment  of  their  utterance 
at  the  throne  of  grace?  It  can  not  be.  We  believe,  and 
truly,  that  their  influence  avails  not  only  in  securing  pres- 
ent benefits,  but  also  those  for  the  days  to  come — their 
influence  extends  far  into  the  future.  Hence,  the  place 
whereon  we  stand  is  holy  ground,  consecrated  by  the  agon- 
izing, earnest,  trustful  petitions  of  our  spiritual  ancestors. 

We  think  of  the  many  times  in  which  the  command  of 
love  has  been  here  obeyed — times  when  the  followers  of  the 
Redeemer  have  delighted  to  draw  near  the  sacramental 
feast,  and  to  receive  in  faith  the  bread  and  the  cup,  emblem- 
atic of  a  Saviour's  broken  body  and  shed  blood.  They  are 
not  with  us  now  in  the  body,  it  is  true,  but  have  passed 
joyfully  and  triumphantly  into  the  better  land,  where  they 


182  Centennial  Memorial. 

are  enjoying  the  marriage  supper  of  the  lamb — neverthe- 
less, as  often  as  we  ourselves  are  privileged  to  partake  of  the 
sweet  memorials  of  love,  we  do  indeed  realize  the  com- 
munion of  the  saints,  we  feel  as  if  drawn  into  special  fellow- 
ship with  those  who  have  gone  before. 

How  enrapturing  the  thought,  that  the  time  is  rapidly 
approaching  when  the  entire  sacramental  host,  the  redeemed 
of  God,  who  have  met  here  and  elsewhere  to  worship  God 
even  with  the  imperfections  of  our  human  nature,  shall  be 
gathered  in  the  temple  not  made  with  hands,  there  to  unite 
in  the  thrilling  anthem  of  that  service  in  which  they  rest 
not,  day  nor  night,  praising  God  ! 

Olivet  Church,  as  is  well  known,  is  the  youngest  in  the 
Presbyterian  family  of  churches  in  Harrisburg.  Availing 
myself  of  the  historical  material  at  hand,  I  may  be  allowed 
to  note  briefly  the  origin  of  the  infant  congregation,  and 
something  of  the  work  already  accomplished  within  its 
bounds. 

Referring,  then,  first  of  all,  to  the  Year  Book  of  the 
Market  Square  Church  for  the  year  1888,  I  find  it  stated, 
that  of  two  important  movements  of  which  this  venerable 
church  was  already  interested,  one  was  the  fostering  of  a 
Presbyterian  enterprise  on  Allison's  Hill,  and  that  the  Pine 
Street  Church  shared  largely  in  such  interest  and  care.  On 
Tuesday,  22d  November,  1887,  the  Presbyterians  residing 
on  Allison's  Hill  organized  a  Presbyterian  association  and 
inaugurated  a  prayermeeting.  The  secretary  of  that  asso- 
ciation, writing  in  the  December  issue  of  The  Church  and 
Home,  just  one  month  following  the  starting  of  the  prayer- 
meeting,  says  with  deep  significance,  "  we  feel  that  the  first 


Address  by  Rev.  William  P.  Patterson.  183 

month's  experience  of  this  meeting  reveals  tliat  it  is  needed 
and  enjoyed  by  the  people  in  this  portion  of  the  city.  Such 
is  our  distance  from  our  churches  it  is  with  difficulty  that 
any  of  us  can  attend  the  Wednesda}^  evening  meetings,  and 
some  of  us  are  utterly  unable  to  do  so.  This  meeting  gives 
us  a  weekly  praj'^ermeeting  which  we  all  felt  we  nf^eded. 
May  we  be  blest  in  this  effort  to  do  for  ourselves,  and  the 
portion  of  the  city  in  which  we  live.  We  desire  the  prayers 
of  the  members  for  our  prosperity."  If  any  justification 
for  such  a  movement  were  required,  we  surely  have  it  in 
this  utterance,  and  it  might  well  have  secured  for  the 
new  movement  the  perpetual  sympathetic  interest  of  those 
w^hose  pra3^ers  are  here  so  eagerly  craved. 

Not  quite  a  year  later  we  find  that  the  association  and 
prayermeeting,  so  auspiciously  begun,  no  longer  capable 
of  being  accommodated  in  the  homes  on  the  hill,  has 
developed  into  a  flourisliing  Sabbath-school,  and  obliged  to 
take  refuge  in  a  church  building  on  Derry  and  Kittatinny 
streets,  providentially  offering  itself  at  the  time.  That  is 
to  say,  on  the  14th  of  October,  1888,  in  the  church  building 
referred  to,  a  Sabbath-school  w^as  duly  organized  under  the 
name  of  the  Olivet  Presbyterian  Sabbath-school.  The 
school  was  organized  with  eighty-two  scholars,  fourteen 
teachers  and  six  officers.  At  the  organization  there  were 
present  Revs.  George  B.  Stewart,  D.  D.,  Geo.  S.  Chambers, 
D.  D.,  and  W.  H.  Logan,  Presbyterial  missionary,  all  of 
whom  spoke  encouragingly  to  the  school,  and  wished  the 
organizers  of  the  new  movement  God's  blessing. 

From  this  point  onward,  in  addition  to  the  invariable 
prayer   service  of    each   Tuesday  evening,  the   occasional 


184  Centennial  Memorial. 

preaching  of  the  Word  was  enjoyed.  The  entire  work  was 
a  union  movement  of  the  Market  Square  and  Pine  Street 
Churches,  and  under  the  direction  and  control  of  a  joint 
committee  from  the  two  Sessions.  So  pronounced  was  the 
growth  of  this  new  enterprise  in  the  few  months  following, 
that  on  Sabbath,  May  19th,  1889,  Mr.  Robert  Cochran,  of 
the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  at  Allegheny,  on  invita- 
tion, took  charge  of  the  work,  the  Sabbath-school,  which 
had  been  organized  with  only  eighty-two  members,  having 
increased  about  ninety-three  per  cent. 

It  may  be  mentioned  here,  parenthetically,  as  an  inter- 
esting item  in  this  history,  that  Governor  James  A.  Beaver 
had  become  very  deeply  concerned  in  the  success  of  the 
young  enterprise,  and  was  now  conducting  an  adult  Bible 
class  of  thirty-five  persons,  who  had  banded  themselves 
together  for  the  purpose  of  benevolent  operations  among 
the  poor,  and  also  to  assist  in  bringing  adults  and  children 
into  the  Sabbath-school.  The  Bible-class  work  which 
Governor  Beaver  thus  began  is  now  very  energetically  con- 
tinued by  Mr.  A.  C.  Stamm. 

In  July  of  this  year  we  find  the  Sabbath-school  number- 
ing two  hundred  and  fifty-one  scholars,  of  whom  between 
seventy-five  and  one  hundred  are  in  the  Primary  depart- 
ment ;  and  so  crowded  are  the  quarters,  that  it  is  determined 
to  erect  a  building  at  the  rear  of  the  church  and  connect 
with  it  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the  Bible  and 
Primary  classes.  With  the  cordial  assistance  of  interested 
friends  that  object  was  attained.  In  August  of  the  same 
year  a  petition  for  an  independent  church  organization  was 
circulated  and  was  signed  by  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine 


Olivet  Presbyteri/^n  Church. 

Derrv  and  Kittatinny  Streets. 


Address  by  Rev.  William  P.  Fatter  son.  185 

persons,  forty-five  of  whom  signified  their  intention  of 
becoming  communicant  members,  should  the  church  be 
organized.  Governor  Beaver  was  one  of  the  signers  and 
became  a  member  and  also  a  ruling  elder  in  the  new  organ- 
ization. That  petition  was  presented  to  the  Presbytery  of 
of  Carlisle,  at  its  meeting  in  Duncannon  on  the  8tli  of 
October,  1889,  was  carefully  considered  and  allowed,  a  com- 
mittee of  Presbytery  being  appointed  to  constitute  the 
desired  church,  if  the  way  should  appear  clear.  The  com- 
mittee raised  for  this  purpose  consisted  of  Revs.  George  S. 
Chambers,  D.  D.,  George  B.  Stewart,  D.  D.,  Ebenezer 
Erskine,  D.  D.,  and  Messrs.  Francis  Jordan  and  S.  J.  M. 
McCarrell.  On  Tuesday,  loth  October,  1889,  at  7.30  p.  m., 
after  proper  publication  of  the  matter,  this  committee 
accomplished  the  object  for  which  it  had  been  named.  In 
the  organization  of  Olivet  Presbyterian  Church  the  Rev.  Dr 
Chambers  preached  the  sermon,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Erskine  con- 
ducted the  ordination  of  the  eiders  then  elected,  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Stewart  made  a  brief  address  to  the  new  church. 
Governor  James  A.  Beaver,  William  S.  Shaffer,  Jacob  K. 
Walker  and  Charles  C.  Steel  were  chosen  and  set  apart  to 
the  office  of  ruling  elder.  Since  then  Governor  Beaver  and 
Charles  C.  Steel  have  retired  from  the  Session  and  church, 
removing  from  the  city,  and  Abram  L.  Groff  and  Alexander 
Adams  have  succeeded  them. 

In  June  of  1890  Mr.  Robert  Cochran  was  formall}^  called 
to  the  pastorate  of  the  church  and  labored  in  the  parish 
until,  at  his  own  request,  he  was  released  in  August  of  1892. 
The  record  of  the  church-life  and  work  for  this  entire 
period,  making  due  allowance  for  the  difficulties  and   com- 


186  Centennial  Memorial. 

parative  lack  of  resources  incident  to  most  new  enterprises, 
is  encouraging  in  a  marked  degree.  Down  to  the  retire- 
ment of  Mr.  Cochran  from  the  pastoral  oversight  of  the 
church,  fifty-seven  were  admitted  to  membership  on  pro- 
fession of  their  faith  in  Christ,  and  sixty-one  by  letters  of 
dismissal  from  sister  churches.  The  sum  of  $339.00  was 
contributed  for  benevolent  purposes,  and  $4,306.00  for  con- 
gregational uses,  and  $140.00  for  miscellaneous  objects. 

In  October  of  1892  the  present  minister  was  called  and, 
having  accepted  the  call  and  entered  at  once  upon  the 
duties  of  the  pastorate,  was  installed  on  Tuesday  evening, 
10th  of  January,  1893,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Chambers  preaching 
the  sermon,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stewart  charging  the  pastor  and 
the  Rev.  David  M.  Skilling  charging  the  people.  Of  the 
history  of  Olivet  Church  since  the  beginning  of  this  second 
pastorate  let  others  speak.  I  only  desire,  in  closing  my 
remarks,  to  express  the  conviction  that,  from  the  stand'poiut 
of  organization  at  least,  there  can  be  but  one  judgment  as 
to  the  promise  for  the  future.  Never  before  have  there  been 
brighter  prospects  of  usefulness  and  of  encouraging  results 
in  the  justly-to-be-desired  establishment  of  our  common 
Presbyterianism  on  Allison's  Hill.  The  field  of  operations 
is  both  large  and  interesting.  We  need,  it  is  true,  both 
friends  and  money,  but  given  these  plus  the  willing  hearts 
and  means  already  consecrated  on  the  field,  the  issue  can 
never  be  doubtful. 

Grateful  for  what  this  venerable  and  beloved  church  has 
been  divinely  empowered  to  accomplish  in  the  promotion 
of  Christ's  kingdom,  and  in  the  extension  of  Presbyte- 
rianism in  this  city  during  the  centur}^  just  closed,  and  fully 


Address  by  Rev.  William  P.  Patterson.  187 

appreciating  the  bright,  hopeful  outlook  into  the  century 
just  opening,  we  lift  our  hearts  to  our  common  Lord  and 
Father,  praying  that  he  may  be  with  you  alwa}^,  and  may 
bless  3^ou  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  your  hearts 
can  ask  or  think. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Patterson's  address  Rev.  Mr. 
West  led  in  prayer,  and  then  announced  hymn  No.  639, 
verses  1,  3. 

Clwrics — Shout  the  glad  tidings,  exultingly  sing  ; 
Jerusalem  triumphs,  Messiah  is  King. 

1.  Zion,  the  marvelous  story  be  telling, 

The  Son  of  the  Highest,  how  lowly  his  birth  : 

The  brightest  archangel  in  glory  excelling. 

He  stoops  to  redeem  thee.  He  reigns  upon  earth. 

Chorus — Shout  the  glad,  etc. 

Chorus— Shout  the  glad,  etc. 

3.  Mortals,  your  homage  be  gratefully  bringing, 
And  sweet  let  the  gladsome  hosanna  arise  ; 

Ye  angels,  the  full  hallelujah  be  singing  ; 

One  chorus  resound  through  the  earth  and  the  skies. 

Chorus — Shout  the  glad,  etc. 

After  the  Benediction  by  Mr.  West,  and  Mr.  Crozier's 
organ  postlude,  Guilmant's  chorus  in  D  Minor,  the  audience 
dispersed.  Though  in  the  nature  of  the  case  the  exercises 
were  unusually  long,  the}^  were  yet  of  unusual  interest,  and 
the  attention  of  the  large  audience  was  unrelaxed  through- 
out the  whole  service. 


THURSDAY  EYEI^JING, 

February  the  15th,  1894.,  ai  7.30  o'clock. 


Historical  Evening. 
This  was  the  indispensable  evening  of  the  week.  The 
other  services,  delightful  as  they  were  and  appropriate,  were 
yet  not  essential.  In  this  evening  centered  the  significance 
of  the  whole  celebration.  This  fact  raised  the  expectations 
of  the  large  audience  to  the  highest  point.  They  came 
anticipating  a  rare  treat  and  they  were  not  disappointed. 
The  occasion  justified  the  high  hopes  of  all  concerned.  The 
Minister  of  the  church  was  requested  by  the  Centennial 
Committee  to  preside  at  this  meeting.  The  service  was 
introduced  by  Mackenzie's  "  Benedictus,"  a  quiet  and  tender 
prelude,  which  harmonized  with  the  memories  evoked  by 
the  occasion.  The  Minister  led  the  congregation  in  repeat- 
ing the  Apostle's  Creed,  the  foundation  faith  of  the  Church. 
The  Rev.  I.  Potter  Hayes,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
Wrightsville,  Pa.,  and  formerly  pastor  of  the  Covenant 
Presbyterian  Church  of  this  city,  led  the  congregation  in 
prayer.  Rev.  Dr.  George  S.  Chambers  announced  hymn 
No.  435,  verses  1,  2,  3,  5. 

Our  God,  our  help  in  ages  past, 

Our  hope  for  years  to  come, 
Our  shelter  from  the  stormy  blast, 

And  our  eternal  home  I 


190  Centennial  Memorial. 

Before  the  hills  in  order  stood, 

Or  earth  received  her  frame, 
From  everlasting  thou  art  God, 

To  endless  years  the  same. 

A  thousand  ages  in  thy  sight 

Are  like  an  evening  gone, 
Short  as  the  watch  that  ends  the  night 

Before  the  rising  dawn. 

Our  God,  our  help  in  ages  past, 

Our  hope  for  years  to  come  ! 
Be  thou  our  guard  while  troubles  last, 

And  our  eternal  home. 

Rev.  John  L.  McKeehan,  M.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Steelton 
Presbyterian  Church,  read  the  Scripture  lesson,  Psalm 
89  : 1-11.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  Scripture  lesson  the 
choir  sang  the  "  Hallelujah  Chorus  "  from  Handel's  ".Mes- 
siah." As  the  first  notes  of  this  inspiring  chorus  came  from 
the  well  trained  voices  the  large  audience  rose  as  by  a 
common  impulse,  and  remained  standing  until  the  last 
notes  of  the  holy  praise  died  away. 

The  President  of  the  Evening.  This  evening  is  the 
jewel  of  this  week.  ■  All  that  has  gone  before  and  that 
which  is  to  come  after  is  the  setting,  resplendent  and  full  of 
delight,  but  still  the  setting.  It  is  this  night  that  gives 
significance  to,  and  justification  of,  all  others.  We  are  cele- 
brating the  centenar}^  of  our  church,  and  we  are  met 
to-night  to  hear  the  story  of  an  hundred  years  of  endeavor, 
of  struggle,  of  trial  and  of  achievement;  and  we  are  to  hear  it 
from  one  than  whom  there  is  none  better  to  tell  us  the  story, 
nor  more  competent  to  give  us  the  correct  interpretation 
thereof.   And  aside  from  this,  there  is  a  peculiarly  tender  and 


Historical  Evening.  191 

significant  reason  why  he  should  be  invited  to  narrate  this 
history.  He  himself  was  an  actor  in  much  of  it,  bearing 
his  part  nobly  and  well  for  thirty  years,  and  for  the  last 
ten  years  he  has  been  a  spectator,  interested  and  closely 
associated  with  the  events  as  the}''  have  transpired.  He  is 
bound  to  many  in  this  audience  by  ties  most  tender.  Your 
thoughts  to-night  will  follow  his  words  as  he  tells  you  the 
story  of  your  ancestors  and  of  yourselves.  Before  I  give 
place  to  him,  I  feel  that  in  all  sincerit}^  I  ought  to  say  what 
I  am  delighted  to  take  the  occasion  to  say,  that  since  I  have 
been  his  successor  in  the  pastoral  office  of  this  church  he 
has  proved  himself  to  be  my  wisest  counsellor  and  my 
firmest  friend.  The  delight  of  serving  you  has  been  intensi- 
fied by  the  delight  of  following  him.  I  have  learned  the 
reason  of  your  love  for  him,  and  I  desire  to  be  enrolled  in 
that  great  company  whose  hearts  are  entwined  around  his 
and  whose  lives  are  made  richer,  purer,  better  by  having 
learned  to  love  him.  I  could  have  been  treated  in  no  more 
cordial,  helpful,  fraternal  manner  than  I  have  been  by  Dr. 
Robinson.  I  bear  this  testimony  that  the  century  which  is 
to  follow,  may  know,  if  it  cares  to  know,  that  I  love  him 
with  all  my  heart,  as  you  did,  and  still  do.  Dr.  Robinson 
will  now  speak  to  us  upon  the  history  of  the  church  for 
an  hundred  years,  entitling  his  theme  "  A  Century  Plant." 


"A  CENTURY  PLANT." 


By  Rev.  THOMAS  H.  ROBINSON,  D.  D. 


Now  go  write  it  before  them  on  a  tablet,  and  inscribe  it  in  a  book, 
that  it  may  be  for  the  time  to  come  forever  and  ever. — Isaiah,  xxx.  8. 

Walter  Scott  has  very  touchingly  told  us  of  Old  Mor- 
tality, a  religious  itinerant  of  his  times.  He  was  first  dis- 
covered in  the  burial  ground  of  the  Parish  of  Gaudercleugh. 
It  was  his  custom  to  pass  from  one  graveyard  to  another, 
and  with  the  patient  chisel  of  the  engraver  clear  away  the 
moss  from  the  grey  tombstones,  and  restore  the  names  and 
the  lines  that  Time's  finger  had  well  nigh  effaced.  It 
mattered  little  to  him  whether  it  was  the  headstone  oT  some 
early  martyr  to  the  faith,  or  only  love's  memorial  to  some 
little  child.  It  was  his  joy  to  do  the  quiet  and  unbidden 
work  of  bringing  again  to  the  notice  of  men  the  history  and 
the  heroism  of  some  of  God's  nobility  of  wdiom  the  world 
was  not  worthy,  nor  less  to  honor  the  unknown  ones  who 
were  laid  to  rest  with  unseen  tears. 

Our  work  to-day  bears  something  of  the  same  character. 
Like  Old  Mortality,  we  step  softly  and  reverently  among 
the  graves  of  the  past.  Chisel  in  hand  we  pass  from  memory 
to  memory.  We  clear  away  the  gathered  moss.  We  re- 
furnish the  ancient  stones  and  read  again  the  names  of  the 
departed,  dropping  here  and  there  a  tear  as  precious  mem- 
ories are  awakened,  and  reminding  ourselves  anew  of  a 
fellowship   that  is  only  interrupted   for  a  little   time.     The 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Bobinson.     193 

past  is  ours.  We  are  its  heirs.  Its  good  comes  down  to  us 
in  an  apostolic  succession  of  benedictions.  Tlie  links  that 
bind  us  to  past  days  and  j^ears  are  golden  links.  It  is  one 
of  the  choicest  gifts  of  grace,  that  we  may  at  the  same  time 
live  three  lives  in  one.  Past  memories  and  present  ex- 
periences and  future  hopes  do  blend  to  make  human  life 
noble  and  attractive.  Our  holy  faith  commemorates  the 
past,  gladdens  the  present  and  brightens  the  future. 

We  stand  to-day  at  the  close  of  an  hundred  years.  We 
stand  also  at  the  beginning  of  another  hundred  years.  This 
Church  is  to-day  one  of  the  Century  Plants  in  the  earthly 
garden  of  our  Lord.  It  has  taken  a  century  to  grow  to 
what  it  now  is  and  a  century  to  do  the  work  that  it  has 
done.  A  mighty  forest  tree  is  what  the  revolving  years,  it 
may  be  the  added  centuries  have  made  it.  Day  and  night, 
sunshine  and  rain,  seasons  coming  and  seasons  going,  gentle 
winds  and  stormy  blasts,  the  soil,  the  atmosphere,  a  thou- 
sand things  have  been  conspiring  in  a  happy  partnership  to 
lift  that  mighty  trunk  towards  the  sky.  So  with  ourselves. 
No  man  creates  himself.  No  man  begins  his  own  work. 
The  roots  of  our  being  run  back  into  the  past  generations. 
Our  work  began  before  we  w^ere  born.  Other  hands  laid 
the  foundations  on  which  we  are  building.  So  with  a 
Church.  Many  workers  toil  in  its  uplifting.  The  men  of 
to-day  are  carrying  on  and  carrying  out  what  others  be- 
gun. There  is  a  succession  and  dependence  in  all  the 
labors  of  men.  The  generations  reap  the  fields  their  fore- 
fathers sowed.  The  knowledge,  the  wisdom,  the  power,  the 
numbers,  the  religious  faith,  which  any  Church  of  to-day 
possesses  are  largely   a  transmission    from  the  past.     It  has 


194  Centennial  Memorial. 

been  handed  down,  each  generation  retaining  what  it  re- 
ceived from  its  predecessor  and  adding  to  the  general  stock 
for  the  benefit  of  coming  ages.  We  are  debtors  to  the  past. 
The  social,  the  political,  the  moral  and  the  religious  riches 
we  are  enjoying  have  been  slowdy  accumulating.  Other 
men  prepared  the  way  for  our  era  of  light  and  liberty. 
Other  men  who  left  no  name  behind  them,  helped  to 
build  our  large  estates  of  science,  of  art,  of  freedom  and 
religion.  It  is  because  before  us  there  were  preachers  of 
righteousness,  and  lovers  of  truth,  men  wdio  w^ere  fearless 
against  wrong  and  enamored  of  goodness,  it  is  because  we 
had  fathers  in  the  olden  time  who  had  patience  and  courage 
to  work  on  for  the  better  times  that  were  to  come  to  their 
children,  that  we  now  find  the  world  getting  ready  for  the 
Christ  age. 

We  may  well  recall  with  gratefulness  the  history  that 
leads  us  up  to  the  present.  We  cannot,  indeed  rehearse  all 
they  w^ere,  nor  all  they  did,  who  bequeathed  to  us  our 
heritage.  It  will  be  all  that  we  dare  to  hope,  if  we  give  a 
little  life  and  vividness  to  our  ancestral  records. 

One  hundred  years  carry  us  back  to  seventeen  hundred 
and  ninety-four,  the  date  of  organized  Presbyterianism,  as 
a  Church,  on  this  spot.  How  changed  the  scene  from  that 
upon  wdiich  we  look  to-day !  The  broad  river  with  its 
beautiful  islands,  the  wooded  ranges  of  the  Kittatinny 
rising  like  a  protecting  rampart,  the  glorious  sunset  and 
the  overarching  sky  were  here,  but  all  else,  how  different. 
Large  forest  trees  were  standing  upon  the  greater  part  of 
the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  city.  The  hills  back  of  us 
were  covered  by  the   forests.     Rugged  country    roads  led  to 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.   Thomas  H.  Robinson.     195 

and  from  the  little  hamlet  that  gathered  around  the  ferry 
across  the  river.  The  town  began  its  growth  from  the 
region  about  the  junction  of  Paxton  and  Front  streets  and 
from  thence  extended  up  the  river  and  up  the  hill,  with  a 
width  of  but  two  or  three  streets.  The  little  village  of  from 
one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  houses  had  been 
incorporated  into  a  borough  in  1785,  nine  years  before,  and 
had  been  named  Harrisburg  after  its  founder.  Its  dwellings 
were  scattered  somewhat  irregularly  below  the  place  on 
which  this  Church  stands.  Very  few  houses  were  to  be 
found  above  Market  street  or  beyond  Third.  Leaving  the 
corner  of  Market  square  from  the  door  of  this  Church,  one 
might  pass  down  Second  street  then  ungraded,  and  with 
quite  a  steep  descent  from  Chestnut  street  to  Paxton  creek, 
thence  out  Paxton  street  to  Front  and  up  Front  to  Market 
street  and  to  the  point  of  starting,  and  he  will  have  marched 
around  the  greater  part  of  the  town.  In  a  small  room  of  a  log 
house  which  stood  near  the  corner  of  Front  and  Vine  streets, 
the  first  courts  for  the  new  Count}'  of  Dauphin  were  held ; 
and  a  short  distance  from  this  primitive  court  house  stood 
the  Pillory,  a  noted  instrument  of  public  justice  in  those 
days.  The  large  stone  house  on  Front  street  and  Wash- 
ington, the  residence  of  the  late  General  Simon  Cameron, 
had  been  erected  by  John  Harris  the  founder  of  the  town 
in  1766,  nearly  thirty  years  earlier.  It  is  one  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  years  old  and  bids  fair  to  see  the  close  of  the 
twentieth  century.  There  was  in  the  town  a  population  of 
a  few  hundreds.  Families  that  were  prominent  in  the 
organization  of  this  Church  had  been  resident  here  for  some 
years.     It  was  a  mixed  population  consisting  mainly  of  the 


196  Centennial  Memorial. 

Scotch-Irish    and   German  people,    with  a  few    famihes  of 
direct  English  descent. 

Of  the  Scotch-Irish  families  the  following  names  ma}'  be 
mentioned  as  among  the  earliest  residents  :  Moses  Gilmor, 
Adam  Boyd,  Samuel  Weir,  James  Murray,  John  Hamilton, 
James  Mitchell,  John  Kean,  Thomas  Forster,  William 
Graydon,  James  Clunie,  Henry  Fulton,  Robert  Sloan, 
Archibald  McAlister,  the  Montgomer3's,  the  Berry  hills  and 
others. 

Presbyterianism  on  this  spot  antedates  by  many  years  the 
organization  of  the  Church.  Its  households  were  connected 
with  the  long  prior  and  more  venerable  Church  of  Paxtang, 
which  for  more  than  half  a  century  was  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  celebrated  John  Elder.  Joined  with  Paxtang 
under  the  same  pastorate  for  forty-eight  years  was  the 
Church  of  Derry.  North  of  Derry  and  Paxtang  along  the 
Kittatinny  Mountains  lay  the  large  congregation  of  Hanover, 
now  for  many  years  extinct.  From  these  three  once 
flourishing  congregations  came  the  founders  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  in  Harrisburg.  They  were  mainly  from 
Paxtang  as  this  region  was  within  the  boundaries  of  that 
congregation.  They  were  a  people  of  strong  and  clear  and 
intelligent  convictions,  adherents  of  the  Westminster  Con- 
fession, and  the  Presbyterian  polity  of  church  government. 
A  long  line  of  pious  ancestry  in  the  mother  land,  had 
prepared  them  for  the  trials  and  triumphs  of  their  new 
pioneer  homes  across  the  sea.  They  were  the  best  materials 
out  of  which  to  build  a  free  State  and  a  free  Church.  They 
were  a  frugal,  industrious,  energetic  people.  Hardy,  rugged 
and  resolute.     They  have  left  their  name  and  their  mark 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.   Thomas  H.  Robinson.     197 

wherever  they  have  gone.  They  were  men  of  peculiar  and 
marked  character.  In  their  ways  of  thinking,  their  habits 
of  life,  the  training  of  their  families,  and  their  religious 
customs  and  modes  of  worship,  they  were  clearly  distinct 
from  the  ordinary  Englishman  and  the  German.  They 
were  strict  in  their  ways,  rigid  in  the  observance  of  the 
Sabbath,  and  were  the  very  quality  of  human  nature  out  of 
which  to  make  good  and  useful  citizens  and  great  men. 
They  were  the  firm  friends  of  education,  moral,  patriotic, 
liberty-loving,  tyrant-hating,  God-fearing.  They  were  plain 
and  simple  in  manners.  They  founded  pious  homes, 
orderly  communities  and  excellent  schools,  and  never  failed 
to  plant  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  wherever  they  settled. 
They  trusted  God.  They  held  by  his  holy  truth.  They 
thoroughl}"  believed  in  religion.  They  worked  and  lived 
for  a  better  and  brighter  future  for  their  descendants,  and 
doubted  not  that  when  they  passed  away  the  truth  would  live 
on  and  the  Kingdom  of  God  would  grow,  and  Christ  would 
win  the  final  and  complete  victor3^  They  had  their  faults. 
They  were  not  the  best  and  saintliest  men  that  ever  lived, 
but  we  may  heartily  thank  God  for  their  sturdiness  and 
their  devotion  to  what  was  good  and  sound  and  true. 

A  brief  reference  to  the  Church  and  its  pastor,  out  of 
which  this  church  sprung,  seems  to  be  necessary  in  form- 
ing a  just  estimate  of  the  elements  that  entered  into  the 
early  structure  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Harrisburg. 

The  parish  of  Rev.  John  Elder  was  a  large  one.  It  ex- 
tended along  the  banks  of  the  Susquehanna  from  the  Gap 
in  the  mountains  at  Dauphin,  to  the  banks  of  the  Swatara 
at  Middletown,  a  distance  of  fully  twenty  miles.     On  the 


198  Centennial  Memorial. 

hill  back  of  the  village  of  Dauphin  there  stood  in  the  early 
part  of  this  century  a  small  church  building  in  which  Mr. 
Elder  was  accustomed  occasionally  to  preach.  In  width 
the  parish  extended  back  from  the  river  to  the  mountain 
and  to  the  borders  of  the  Hanover  congregation,  a  distance 
of  from  eight  to  twelve  miles. 

Mr.  Elder's  pastorate  commenced  about  thirty  years  after 
the  first  establishment  of  Presbyterianism  in  this  countr}', 
and  continued  through  the  bitter  religious  controversies  of 
the  early  history,  through  ravages  of  border  warfare  with 
the  savage  Indians  and  through  the  seven  years  of  the 
Revolutionary  conflict,  and  until  four  years  after  the  estab- 
lishment of  our  present  free  and  constitutional  government 
in  1789;  in  brief,  from  1738  to  1792,  when  Mr.  Elder  died  in 
the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  sixtieth  of  his  min- 
istry, fifty-four  of  which  were  spent  at  Paxtang. 

An  account  of  Mr.  Elder,  given  by  Mr.  Joseph  Wallace, 
the  grandfather  of  Judge  McPherson,  thus  describes  him. 
He  was  a  large,  fine-looking  man,  above  six  feet  in  height, 
well  formed  and  proportioned,  dignified  in  his  manners,  a 
fine  specimen  of  an  educated  gentleman.  He  was  beloved 
and  respected  by  the  people  of  his  congregation  and  exer- 
cised a  great  influence  for  good  among  them.  He  retained, 
after  his  settlement  in  this  countr}^,  the  dress  and  manners 
of  the  early  Scotch  and  Irish  ministers  abroad.  On  Sabbath 
morning  he  went  from  his  dwelling,  which  was  near  the 
church,  to  the  study,  a  small  log  building  containing  one 
room,  which  was  used  for  the  meetings  of  the  Church  Ses- 
sion, and  there  remained  until  the  congregation  had  assem- 
bled and  the  time  to  commence  service  was  at  hand.     He 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     199 

then  came  from  the  study,  dressed  in  a  gown,  with  a  wig 
carefulh''  powdered  very  white  and  surmounted  by  a  small 
cocked  hat.  Thus  attired  he  walked  in  a  stately  and  solemn 
manner  to  the  church  door,  speaking  to  no  one,  nor  even 
looking  at  any  until  he  had  entered  the  pulpit  and  opened 
the  service.  He  was  a  man  of  great  activity  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life,  resolute,  fearless,  positive  in  his  opinions,  stern 
and  un3nelding  in  what  he  believed  to  be  right,  and  read}^ 
to  maintain  his  convictions  at  any  sacrifice.  He  was  a 
good,  sound  preacher  of  the  most  approved  orthodoxy.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  courage  and  of  indomitable  force  of 
will,  one  of  the  men  born  to  rule.  His  influence  extended 
far  beyond  the  boundaries  of  his  own  congregations.  Very 
few  men  acted  a  more  conspicuous  and  influential  part  in 
the  history  of  Central  Pennsylvania  for  flfty  years  tlian 
did  Parson  Elder.  His  public  reputation  as  a  citizen  and 
a  strong  leader  of  men  is  attested  by  his  commission  as  a 
colonel  of  militia  during  the  storm}'  times  of  the  Indian 
wars.  It  was  under  such  a  leader  of  men  that  the  fathers 
of  this  church  were  trained.  Nor  should  it  be  omitted  from 
this  sketch  that  some  of  the  early  as  well  as  later  members 
of  the  church  were  from  the  "  Old  Hanover  "  congregation, 
where  they  had  been  under  the  instructions  of  the  sound 
and  wise  and  devoted  James  Snodgrass,  pastor  of  that 
church,  from  1788  to  184(3,  a  period  of  fifty-eight  years. 

After  the  borough  was  constituted  and  named,  and  made 
the  seat  of  county  government,  tlie  population  increased 
more  rapidly.  Owing  to  the  distance  and  the  difficulties  of 
travel,  the  Presbyterians  of  the  town  found  it  inconvenient 
to  attend  the  religious  services  at  Paxtang  where  they  held 


200  Centennial  Memorial. 

their  church  membership.  Many  of  them  were  tradesmen 
and  mechanics  and  must  find  their  way  thither  on  foot 
and  in  all  sorts  of  weather.  The  people  were  strongly 
attached  to  Mr.  Elder,  and  were  unwilling  for  a  long  time 
to  sever  their  connection  with  him.  But  after  the  close  of 
the  Revolutionary  war,  in  the  fall  of  1782,  and  the  return 
of  the  people  to  habits  of  peaceful  life,  movements  began 
towards  an  organization  in  the  town.  Mr.  Elder  was  draw- 
ing near  eighty  years  of  age  and  becoming  too  infirm  to 
meet  the  wants  of  so  large  a  parish.  Many  ineffectual 
attempts  were  made  to  obtain  Mr.  Elder's  consent  to  have 
occasional  preaching  by  other  ministers  in  Harrisburg. 
The  attachments  of  more  than  half  a  century  joined  to 
the  tenacity  of  old  age  made  it  impossible  for  him  to 
consent  to  measures  that  looked  towards  the  separation 
of  the  people  of  Harrisburg  from  his  flock.  He  desired 
them  to  abide  as  they  were  until  after  his  death.  Some  of 
the  best  of  his  people  were  in  the  town.  He  was  jealous  of 
all  intrusions  of  neighboring  ministers  into  his  parish.  The 
pastor  at  Silvers'  Spring  for  many  years  was  the  Rev.  John 
Hoge.  He  seems  to  have  preached  in  Harrisburg  without 
any  invitation  from  Mr.  Elder.  It  was  regarded  as  a 
discourtesy  and  an  offense.  Mr.  Elder  made  complaint 
to  the  Presbytery  for  redress,  saying  that  a  "  certain  hog 
had  been  rooting  in  his  grounds,"  giving  the  pronun- 
ciation to  his  name  that  was  common  at  the  time. 

It  is  a  matter  of  tradition  that  the  first  sermon  preached 
in  Harrisburg,  was  given  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Montgomery,  a 
Presbyterian  minister  who  had  been  appointed  the  Register 
and  Recorder  of  the  county,  by  Gov.  Mifflin.     It  is  said  to 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  TJiovias  H.  Eobinson.     201 

have  been  preached  on  a  pleasant  Sabbath  afternoon  in 
June,  on  the  lot  at  the  corner  of  Second  street  and  Cherry 
alley,  upon  which  the  original  Presbyterian  church  of  the 
town  was  subsequently  erected.  The  people  of  the  place 
assembled  in  the  open  air  and  were  sheltered  from  the  sun 
b}^  the  shade  of  some  forest  trees  that  were  standing  and  the 
apple  trees  of  an  orchard  planted  on  the  spot.  It  is  how- 
ever wholly  improbable  that  Mr.  Montgomery's  sermon 
was  the  first  one  preached  in  a  community  whose  origin 
dated  back  beyond  that  time  for  nearly  half  a  century.  Mr. 
Elder  had  probably  often  preached  in  the  little  community 
using  the  dwellings  of  his  parishoners  for  the  service. 
Neighboring  ministers  of  the  Presbytery,  and  occasional 
travelling  ministers,  had  doubtless  often  preached,  using 
private  houses  for  the  purpose  of  holding  service  out  of 
doors. 

In  October,  1786,  a  petition  was  presented  in  the  Presby- 
tery of  Carlisle  from  Harrisburg  and  the  parts  adjacent 
requesting  that  the  people  be  erected  into  a  congregation 
and  be  allowed  to  have  a  place  of  worship  in  the  town,  and 
to  have  supplies  appointed  to  them.  Owing  to  the  absence 
of  Mr.  Elder  no  action  was  taken  on  these  requests. 

In  April  1787,  the  Presbytery  met  at  Carlisle  The 
following  account  is  taken  from  the  record  of  that  meeting : 

"A  representation  and  a  petition  of  a  number  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Harrisburg  and  others  in  the  townshi})  of 
Paxton  was  laid  before  the  Presbytery  and  read.  The  said 
representation  sets  forth  that  these  people  desire  to  be  con- 
sidered as  a  Presbyterian  congregation  and  to  have  supplies 
appointed  them  by  the  Presbytery :  and  that  in  order  to 


202  Centennial  Memorial. 

promote  peace  and  harmony  between  them  and  the  Paxton 
congregation,  some  proposals  had  been  made  to,  and  con- 
sidered by,  though  not  accepted  b}'  that  Congregation,  a 
copy  of  which  was  laid  before  Presbytery." 

Mr.  Elder  gave  a  representation  of  the  case  as  concerning 
those  people  and  the  Paxtang  congregation.  The  Presby- 
tery upon  consideration  of  the  case  agreed  to  propose  the 
following  articles  to  the  consideration  and  acceptance  of 
these  people  which  may  have  a  tendency  to  preserve  peace 
and  union  in  that  part  of  the  church  : 

I.  That  Harrisburg  shall  be  considered  as  the  seat  of  a 
Presbyterian  church,  and  a  part  of  the  charge  of  Rev.  John 
Elder,  in  which  he  is  to  preach  one-third  of  his  time. 

II.  That  Mr.  Elder's  salary  promised  b}'  the  Paxtang  con- 
gregation shall  be  continued  and  paid  by  the  congregation 
in  common  who  adhere  to  these  two  places  of  worship. 

III.  That  the  congregation  thus  united  may  appiy  for 
and  obtain  supplies  as  assistant  to  the  labors  of  Mr.  Elder, 
to  be  paid  by  the  congregation  in  common. 

IV.  That  when  the  congregation  may  judge  it  proper, 
they  shall  have  a  right  to  choose  and  call  a  minister  as  a 
colleague  to  Mr.  Elder  to  officiate  in  rotation  with  him. 

Rev.  Dr.  Davidson,  of  Carlisle,  President  of  Dickinson 
(College,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Waugh,  pastor  of  Silvers'  Spring,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  attend  at  the  church  in  Lower 
Paxton  to  moderate  a  meeting  and  assist  in  the  matter. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  held  in  June,  1787,  Dr. 
Davidson  and  Mr.  Waugh  reported  that  the  following 
articles  had  been  agreed  to  by  Mr.  Elder  and  by  the  united 
congregation  of  Paxtang  and   Harrisburg  : 


Historical  Sermon  of  Ptev.  TJiomas  II.  Robinson.     203 

I.  That  the  congregation  shall  have  two  stated  places  of 
public  worship,  the  one  where  Mr.  Elder  now  officiates,  the 
other  in  Harrisburg. 

II.  That  the  Rev.  John  Elder  shall  have  and  continue  to 
receive  during  his  life  or  incumbency,  all  the  salary  or 
stipends  that  he  now  enjoys,  to  be  paid  by  his  present  sub- 
scribers as  he  and  they  may  agree,  and  continue  his  labors 
in  Derry  as  usual. 

III.  That  for  the  present  the  congregation  may  apply  to 
the  Presbytery  for  supplies,  which,  when  obtained,  the 
expense  shall  be  defrayed  by  those  who  do  not  now  belong 
to  Mr.  Elder's  congregation,  and  such  as  may  think  proper 
to  join  with  them  ;  and  should  such  supplies  be  appointed 
when  Mr.  Elder  is  to  be  in  Paxtang,  then  he  and  the  person 
are  to  preach  in  rotation,  the  one  in  the  country  and  the 
other  in  the  town  ;  but  should  Mr.  Elder  be  in  Derry,  then 
the  supplies  shall  officiate  in  the  town. 

IV.  That  the  congregation,  when  able,  or  when  they 
think  proper,  may  invite  and  settle  any  regular  Presby- 
terian minister  they,  or  a  majority  of  them,  may  choose 
and  can  obtain  as  co-Pastor  with  ]\Ir.  Elder,  who  shall 
officiate  as  to  preaching  in  the  manner  specified  in  the 
third  proposal." 

Notwithstanding  these  arrangements,  Mr.  Elder  con- 
tinued to  be  the  sole  pastor  of  the  two  congregations  of 
Derry  and  of  Paxtang,  including  Harrisburg,  until  April 
13,  1791,  when  the  relation  was  dissolved.  He  died  on 
July  17,  1792,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-six  years. 
His  remains  lie  buried  in  the  Paxtang  graveyard.  All 
honor   to  the  memory  of    a  sterling    and    stalwart    man, 


204  Centennial  Memorial. 

who  was  conspicuous  for  more  than  a  half  century  as 
one  of  the  foremost  men  of  his  times. 

After  Mr.  Elder's  death  the  people  of  Harrisburg  who 
held  to  the  Presbyterian  faith  began  at  once  to  take 
measures  for  a  distinct  organization. 

In  an  old  volume  belonging  to  the  congregation,  the 
following  minute  is  found  recorded  in  the  handwriting  of 
William  Graydon,  Esq.: 

"  July  30,  1793.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Harrisburg 
congregation,  the  following  persons  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  govern  the  affairs  of  the  church,  viz :  Joseph 
Montgomery,  Samuel  Weir,  Moses  Gilmor,  James  Mitchell, 
and  William  Graydon."  The  first  treasurer  of  the  congre- 
gation, so  far  as  can  be  learned  from  any  existing  records, 
was  Mr.  Henry  Fulton,  who,  in  1790,  gave  place  to  Mr. 
John  Kean,  whose  term  of  service  continued  for  two  years. 
How  many  years  Mr.  Fulton  had  served  we  have  no'means 
of  ascertaining.  From  some  loose  })apers  containing  a  part 
of  the  treasurer's  accounts  we  gather  the  names  of  a 
number  of  ministers  who  preached  occasionally  to  the 
congregation  prior  to  its  organization  into  a  church.  It 
may  be  noted  that  nearly  three  years  passed  after  the 
resignation  of  Mr.  Elder  before  the  church  was  organized. 
Of  the  men  who  supjDlied  the  pulpit  at  different  times 
the  following  may  be  noted,  viz :  Robert  Cathcart,  pastor  of 
the  York  Presbyterian  Church  for  forty-four  years ;  James 
Snodgrass,  for  fifty-seven  years  the  pastor  of  the  old 
Hanover  church  ;  Samuel  Waugh,  pastor  of  the  Monaghan 
and  East  Pennsborough  churches,  now  known  as  Dillsburg 
and  Silvers'  Spring,  for  twenty-five  years  ;  Joseph  Hender- 


Nathaniel  Randolph  Snowden. 

1793-1805. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     205 

son,  of  Great  Conewago, and  Colin  McFarquliar,  of  Donegal; 
David  Denny,  for  nearly  forty  years  pastor  of  Falling 
Springs  Church,  Chambersburg;  Dr.  Charles  Nisbet,  the 
distinguished  President  of  Dickinson  College ;  Dr.  Robert 
Davidson,  also  President  of  Dickinson  College,  and  for 
twenty-eight  years  pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Carlisle ; 
Dr.  John  Ewing,  for  thirty  years  pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Philadelphia,  and  for  twenty-three  years 
at  the  head  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  ;  Dr.  Samuel 
Miller,  for  thirty-six  years  a  professor  in  the  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary ;  Dr.  John  McKnight,  for  twenty 
years  a  leading  pastor  in  New  York  city,  and  other  men 
less  famous  than  the  foregoing,  but  no  less  sound  and  good. 
The  founders  of  this  church  enjoyed  the  privilege  of 
occasional  instruction  from  some  of  the  most  renowned 
men  and  ablest  scholars  in  the  Presbyterian  church. 
The  influences  thus  thrown  about  them  had  their  bear- 
ing   upon  the  character  of  the  new  organization. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1792  the  united  congre- 
gations of  Paxtang  and  Harrisburg  secured  the  services 
of  Mr.  Nathaniel  R.  Snowden,  a  young  man  who  was 
preparing  for  the  ministry  under  the  care  of  the  Presbyter}' 
of  Philadelphia,  and  during  the  winter  of  1792-1793,  he 
preached  frequently  to  the  congregations,  giving  his  first 
sermon  here  on  September  9,  1792.  On  April  10,  1793,  he 
was  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  and 
a  call  from  the  three  congregations  to  become  their  pastor 
was  placed  in  his  hands,  and  was  accepted  by  him.  Each 
of  the  congregations  agreed   to  paj'^   fifty  pounds  as  their 


206  Centennial  Memorial. 

part  of  the   salary.     On  the  2d  clay  of  October,  1793,  Mr. 
Snowden  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor. 

The  Harrisburg  congregation,  however,  was  not  yet  a 
church.  It  had  been  kept  in  its  minority  for  many  years. 
But  its  hour  had  now  come.  In  January,  1794,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Congregational  Committee,  it  was  agreed  to 
call  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  for  the  purpose  of 
electing  five  ruling  elders  to  govern  the  affairs  of  the  church 
that  should  then  be  constituted.  This  meeting  was  held 
on  Tuesday,  February  11th,  1794,  and  the  five  following 
})ersons  were  elected  to  the  office  of  ruling  elder :  Samuel 
Weir,  Moses  Gilmor,  Adam  Boyd,  Robert  Harris  and  James 
Mitchell.  The  last  two  named  declined  to  accept  the  office. 
On  Sunday,  February  16,  1794,  after  divine  worship  the 
remaining  three,  Messrs.  Weir,  Gilmor  and  Boyd,  were 
ordained  and  installed,  and  this  church  became  a  regularly 
constituted  and  fully  organized  Presbyterian  church.  The 
three  venerable  men  mentioned  may  be  regarded  as  the 
fathers  of  the  church  Session,  and  the  church  had  a  name 
and  a  place  among  the  sisterhood  of  Presbyterian  churches 
in  the  earth.  It  was  an  independent  organization  with  its 
pastor  and  its  board  of  officers.  It  was  an  infant  in  age, 
but  it  was  no  weakling.  It  was  made  up  of  strong  and 
intelligent  men  and  women  to  whom  the  service  of  God 
was  no  new  thing.  They  were  trained  and  disciplined 
workmen.  They  had  borne  the  cross  for  years.  One  of  their 
elders,  Moses  Gilmor,  had  held  the  same  office  in  the 
mother  church  of  Paxtang,  and  all  of  them  were  men  of 
large  experience.     The  three  elders  were  men  of  from  forty- 


Historical  Sermon  of  Bcv.   lliomas  H.  Robinson.     207 

five  to  fifty  years  of  age.  They  were  no  novices,  nor  raw 
recruits,  but  soldiers  of  many  years  service. 

The  young  pastor  gave  the  church  but  one-third  of  his 
time,  preaching  in  Harrisburg  but  twice  a  month,  and  often 
but  once.  This  was  unsatisfactory  to  the  people,  and  the 
burden  of  so  large  a  charge  was  too  great  for  their  minister. 
In  October,  1795,  at  his  request,  the  relation  between  Mr. 
Snowden  and  the  church  of  Derry  was  dissolved  by  the 
Presb3^tery.  Derr}'  was  eleven  miles  distant,  and  along  the 
whole  distance,  and  for  miles  beyond,  the  families  under  his 
pastoral  care  were  scattered.  The  toil  involved  in  visitation 
as  well  as  the  time  required,  was  a  heavy  burden.  The  two 
churches  of  Paxtang  and  Harrisburg  were  left  under  his 
care.  Six  months  later  the  connection  between  Mr.  Snow- 
den and  the  Paxtang  church  was  also  severed  by  the 
consent  of  both  parties.  Derry  and  Paxtang  then  resumed 
their  old  alliance  of  more  than  half  a  century,  and  the 
Harrisburg  church  assumed  the  entire  support  of  Mr. 
Snowden,  and  he  gave  to  it  all  his  time  and  energies.  He 
continued  to  serve  the  church  until  1805,  when,  at  his  own 
request  he  was  released  from  the  charge,  after  a  service  of 
about  twelve  years  and  a  pastorate  of  eleven. 

Mr.  Snowden  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
respectable  families  of  Pennsylvania.  Some  of  his  descend- 
ants at  the  present  day  occupy  high  positions  in  civil  and 
political  life.  ^Ir.  Snowden  was  not  a  man  of  marked 
ability  as  a  preacher  or  a  scholar,  but  during  his  ministry 
here  was  very  acceptable.  A  descendant  of  Old  Paxtang 
thus  testifies  in  regard  to  him  :  "  Those  of  Paxtang  congre- 
gation, whose  memory  runs  back  sixty  years,  will  remember 


208  Centennial  Memorial. 

as  an  occasional  visitant,  this  very  worthy  gentleman.  In 
his  sixties  he  looked  hale  and  vigorous.  He  had  grey  eyes 
and  a  full  face,  and  was  about  one  hundred  and  sixt}'' 
pounds  in  weight.  His  voice  was  strong  and  sonorous  and 
he  delivered  his  words  with  a  measured  deliberation." 

During  the  years  of  the  first  pastorate  of  the  church,  it 
had  no  house  of  worship.  Through  the  long  delay  of  the 
Presbyterians  of  the  town  to  organize  a  church  distinct  from 
Paxtang,  other  denominations  that  were  later  on  the  ground 
and  feebler  in  numbers  and  in  wealth,  were  first  in  the 
organization  of  churches,  and  in  the  ere(!tion  of  a  church 
edifice. 

As  early  as  1787,  there  was  built  by  the  citizens  of  the 
borough  irrespective  of  denominational  connections  a  small 
one-story  log  house  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Third  and 
Walnut  streets  for  the  purpose  both  of  worship  and  as  a 
school  building.  It  was  used  by  the  Lutheran  and 
Reformed  people  for  some  months.  The  same  year  they 
jointly  secured  ground  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Chestnut 
streets,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Reformed  church.  Here 
they  built  a  log  church  fronting  on  Third  street,  the  first 
church  building  erected  in  Harrisburg.  It  was  one  of  the 
notable  events  of  the  time.  All  who  were  favorable  to 
religion  were  invited  to  help  in  the  enterprise,  and  to  their 
credit  be  it  said,  all  classes  vied  with  each  other  in  liber- 
ality and  in  labor.  The  two  congregations,  Lutheran  and 
Reformed,  for  eight  years  worshiped  together  in  happiest 
harmony,  sharing  equally  in  the  support  and  government 
of  the  one  church.  It  was  a  plain  two-story  building,  with 
its  side  to  the  street,  two  windows  in  each  story,  and  a  door 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.   Tliomas  H.  Robinson.     209 

in  the  center  of  the  side.  The  preaching  was  divided 
between  the  English  and  the  German  tongues. 

Meanwhile  the  Presbyterians  were  without  any  fixed 
abode.  For  a  time  they  held  service  in  the  loft  of  the  old 
jail  that  was  erected  soon  after  the  borough  was  formed.  On 
the  17th  of  November,  1798,  an  application  was  made  by 
the  congregation  for  permission  to  fit  up  the  upper  room  of 
the  court  house  as  a  place  of  worship.  The  request  was 
granted,  and  the  room  was  occupied  by  the  church  for  some 
time.  The  accommodations  were  very  unpretentious. 
There  were  no  family  pews,  nor  cushioned  seats,  nor 
carpeted  aisles,  no  stained  glass  nor  memorial  windows,  no 
organ  loft  nor  grand  organ.  Everything  was  simple  and 
plain.  The  evening  services  were  held  at  "  early  candle 
light,"  and  the  house  was  lighted  by  tallow  candles  of  home- 
made manufacture.  No  bell  summoned  the  worshipers  to 
the  house  of  God.  Hard  benches  greeted  their  coming, 
but  the  God  of  the  Covenant  met  them  and  blessed  them. 

In  the  accounts  of  John  Kean,  treasurer  of  that  early 
period,  we  find  some  items  of  disbursements  that  speak 
clearly  and  pathetically  of  those  early  days  : 

Paid  Robert  Harris  for  one  cord  of  wood,  ten  shillings. 

Paid  James  McNamara  for  six  benches  for  Church  use, 
fifteen  shillings. 

Robert  Sloan  is  paid  nine  shillings,  four  and  a  half  pence 
for  making  two  boxes  to  take  collections  in. 

Paid  Rev.  Mr.  Robinson  for  Presbytery,  seven  shillings 
and  six  pence.  Other  articles  such  as  green  baize  candles, 
sconces,  &c.,  are  mentioned. 

Gustavus  Graham,  the  first  sexton  receives  a  yearly  salary 


210  Centennial  Memorial. 

of  three  pounds.  John  Sargint  a  sexton  of  later  days  gets 
sixteen  dollars  a  year.  Michael  Rupp,  furnishes  twent}?^ 
and  a  half  pounds  of  stove  pipe  for  the  use  of  the  con- 
gregation. Major  William  Glass  is  paid  fifteen  shillings  for 
two  new  benches.  The  principal  expense  seems  to  have 
been  for  fuel  and  candles,  and  for  the  bread  and  wine  used 
at  the  Sacrament  of  the  Supper.  The  usual  cost  of  a 
Sabbath's  supply  for  the  pulpit,  was  one  pound  in  the- 
currency  of  the  times.  One  of  the  largest  items  is  thus 
stated :  "Paid  Mr.  Snowden  for  Missionaries  to  Indians, 
three  pounds,  seven  shillings  and  six  pence."  The  com- 
munion service  was  of  pewter,  and  a  frequent  item  of  cost  is 
for  "scouring  the  pewter."  The  expenses  of  the  congre- 
gation were  met  by  Sabbath  collections,  supplemented, 
when  necessary  by  subscriptions.  These  collections,  prior 
to  1804  seldom  rose  above  one  pound  or  five  dollars  and 
were  often  not  half  that  amount.  On  Sacramental  Sabbaths 
the  day  for  their  largest  congregations,  the  collections  w^ere 
twice  or  thrice  the  usual  amount.  To  secure  the  amounts 
needed  for  the  Pastor's  salary  and  other  expenses,  collectors 
were  appointed  to  visit  all  the  families  of  the  congregation. 
The  lists  of  these  collectors  for  the  seven  years  prior  to  1800 
are  on  record.  In  the  year  1795,  Thomas  Forster,  George 
Whitehill,  William  Graydon  and  Alexander  Berryhill  are 
appointed,  the  latter  two  to  solicit  subscriptions  through 
Paxtang  on  account  of  the  poverty  of  the  people  in  the 
town. 

Baptismal  ceremonies  generally  took  place  at  the  private 
residences  of  the  people,  at  which   sacred  rite  the  friends  of 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  TJiomas  H.  Robinson.     211 

the   family  assembled  and   made  the   occasion  one   to   be 
remembered. 

The  contrast  between  those  early  days  and  our  own  is 
very  great.  Their  rude,  small  room  in  the  loft  of  a  log-jail, 
their  bare  benches,  small  windows  and  uncarpeted  floors, 
their  humble  pulpit  desk,  their  flickering  tallow  candles 
and  pewter  candle  sticks,  and  our  large,  costly  and  elegant 
churches  with  carpeted  aisles,  cushioned  and  comfortable 
pews,  our  decorated  and  memorial  windows,  our  high 
sounding  organs,  our  gas  and  electric  lights  :  their  povert}^ 
their  collections  and  collectors,  their  narrow  fields  for 
church  work,  their  little  grasp  of  the  great  fields  of  missions 
and  benevolence,  and  our  rich  and  active  and  liberal 
Church  of  to-day,  that  feels  that  it  must  clasp  the  whole 
wide  world  in  its  arms  and  to  its  heart  of  love  :  their  scanty 
literature,  their  narrow  outlook,  their  meagre  arts  and 
sciences  and  inventions,  their  social  world,  their  catechisings 
of  the  old  and  young  in  all  their  households,  and  our 
abounding  literature  in  books  and  magazines  and  daily  and 
weekly  press,  our  multiplied  agencies  of  benevolence  for  the 
round  earth,  our  art  and  inventions :  their  jjlain  home 
spun  dress,  simple  manners,  rugged,  but  friendly  speech, 
and  our  manners,  speech  and  dress  molded  by  society  and 
culture — these  and  a  hundred  other  things  serve  to  show 
what  changes  the  Providence  of  God,  and  the  progress  of 
the  times  have  made.  We  cannot  decry  the  past.  We 
have  built  upon  its  foundations.  We  cannot  exult  over 
to-day.  God  mold's  the  ages  for  himself.  Our  fathers 
had  their  noble  work  and  we  have  ours.  They  met  their 
mission.     The}--   believed   in  God.     They  studied    his   law. 


212  Centennial  Memorial. 

They  prayed  and  worked  for  the  coming  and  broader  times 
of  Christ's  kingdom.  Wider,  deeper,  stronger  than  they 
knew  were  the  foundations  at  which  they  set  their  hands. 
It  remains  to  us  in  these  richer  times  to  carry  on  tlieir  work. 
The  next  important  step  in  the  history  of  the  congrega- 
tion was  that  of  providing  for  themselves  a  house  of  wor- 
ship. The  means  taken  would  not  be  sanctioned  in  our 
day,  but  we  must  bear  in  mind  that  the  course  pursued  was, 
at  that  day,  neither  legally  forbidden  nor  morally  con- 
demned. It  was  in  accordance  with  the  customs  of  the 
times.  Our  fathers  were  poor.  They  determined  to  raise 
the  needed  funds  for  church  building  by  a  lottery.  We  are 
not  aware  that  there  was  any  opposition  to  the  plan.  At 
the  close  of  the  last  century  the  finances  of  the  entire  coun- 
try were  in  a  desperate  and  dilapidated  condition.  Every- 
body was  in  debt.  Money  was  in  great  demand.  "Credit 
everywhere  was  at  the  lowest  ebb.  To  raise  money  lotteries 
sprung  up  as  mushrooms  in  every  direction.  A  lottery 
wheel  might  have  been  found  in  every  city  and  in  every 
town  and  village  that  were  large  enough  to  need  some 
public  improvement.  If  a  bridge  was  to  be  built  across 
some  little  stream,  a  school-house  to  be  erected,  a  jail  to  be 
provided  for  criminals,  a  street  to  be  repaired,  a  court  house 
to  be  enlarged,  or  a  church  to  be  reared,  a  lottery  bill  was 
passed  by  the  Legislature,  commissioners  were  appointed,  a 
w^heel  was  procured,  tickets  were  sold,  and  a  day  for  the 
drawing  was  set.  The  mania  was  wide  spread.  Massachu- 
setts sold  lottery  tickets  to  raise  the  money  needed  to  pay 
the  salaries  of  her  public  officials.  The  city  of  New  York 
raised  money  by  lottery  to   enlarge   the   City  Hall.     The 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.   Thomas  H.  Robinson.     213 

court  house  of  Elizabeth  Cily  was  rebuilt,  the  library  of 
Harvard  University  was  increased  and  the  Government  of 
the  United  States  erected  some  of  its  public  buildings  by 
lotteries.  There  was  a  mania  for  lotteries.  They  were  a 
vast  epidemic.  Everybody  seemed  to  be  in  haste  to  get  rich 
in  the  foolish  and  criminal  way  of  emptying  the  pockets  of 
their  fellow-men.  The  hope  of  winning  prizes  became  a 
disease.  It  was  amid  this  general  use  and  approval  of  lot- 
teries and  this  rage  for  them  that  the  founders  of  this 
church  lived.     They  were  swept  into  the  current. 

During  the  winter  of  1797-1798  an  application  was  made 
to  the  Legislature  for  permission  to  raise  $5,000  by  lottery 
for  the  purpose  of  buying  a  lot,  and  building  thereon  a 
house  of  worship  for  the  English  Presbyterian  Congregation 
of  Ilarrisburg.  In  March,  1798,  a  law  was  passed  appoint- 
ing Robert  Harris,  George  Whitehill,  Adam  Boyd,  William 
Graydon,  Christian  Kunkel,  George  Brenizer,  Archibald 
McAllister  and  Samuel  Elder  commissioners  for  that 
purpose.  The  law  provided  that  before  a  ticket  should  be 
sold  the  scheme  should  be  laid  before  the  Governor  of  the 
Commonwealth  and  be  approved  by  him,  that  the  commis- 
sioners should  take  an  oath  diligently  and  faithfully  to 
perform  their  duties,  and  that  at  least  three  of  them  should 
attend  at  the  drawings  of  each  day  until  they  were  com- 
pleted. When  we  consider  the  strictness  of  the  law,  and 
the  great  respectability  of  the  commissioners,  who  were 
charged  w^ith  its  execution,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
law  was  rigidly  observed,  however  much  we  may  reprobate 
lotteries  in  this  more  enlightened  age.  The  scheme  was 
carried  out  and  the  lottery  was  closed  on  July  7, 1803.     The 


214  Centennial  Memorial. 

time  spent  upon  it,  over  four  years,  would  indicate  that  the 
measure  was  not  very  heartily  endorsed.  It  was  not  as 
successful  an  affair  as  was  anticipated.  Everything,  how- 
ever, was  done  in  the  broad  light  of  day.  Many  of  the  best 
people  of  the  community  were  interested  and  bought  tickets. 
The  pastor  of  the  Church  was  among  those  who  drew 
prizes.  Some  of  the  prizes  were  thrown  into  the  treasury  of 
the  Church.  They  were  generally  small  and  no  one  amassed 
wealth  by  the  lottery.  It  is  clear  that  our  forefathers  did 
not  imagine  that  they  were  encouraging  immorality  by 
their  action. 

On  the  seventh  day  of  June,  1804,  the  commissioners 
having  raised  about  five  thousand  dollars  by  the  lottery, 
purchased  the  lot  on  the  corner  of  Second  street  and  Cherry 
alley,  and  soon  after  contracted  with  Messrs.  William  Glass, 
Peter  Brua  and  Samuel  Pool  for  the  erection  of  a  church 
edifice.  It  was  ready  for  use  in  1806,  but  was  not  formally 
dedicated  until  1809.  For  the  first  twelve  years  in  the 
history  of  the  congregation  it  had  no  church  building.  The 
house  now  erected  was  a  plain  substantial  brick  structure, 
forty  feet  by  sixt}^  and  stood  with  its  side  to  the  street, 
and  about  forty-five  feet  back  from  the  pavement.  It  was 
two  stories  in  height,  and  had  two  front  entrances.  It  bore 
a  striking  resemblance  in  form  and  size  to  many  of  the 
fine  barns  that  may  be  seen  in  the  region  about  us.  The 
space  in  front  was  a  green  sward  fenced  in  from  the  street, 
and  shaded  by  four  stately  lombardy  poplars,  a  tree  that 
was  then  greatly  admired.  The  interior  was  comfortably 
arranged  with  large  pews,  built  of  yellow  pine,  but  cushioned 
seats  had  not  yet  come  into  fashion  among  our  hardy  an- 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.   TliODias  H.  Robinson.     215 

cestors.  Tlie  builders  neglected  to  put  chimneys  in  the  new 
house.  The  fire  was  to  be  in  tlie  pulpit.  The  congregation 
had  ample  light  and  ventilation,  but  in  the  winter  no  heat. 
When  the  cold  could  be  endured  no  longer,  and  the  expe- 
dient of  foot-stoves  and'  hot  bricks  failed,  the  old-fashioned 
ten-plate  stoves  were  put  in  and  the  pipes  were  run  out  of 
the  windows.  Evening  services  were  not  often  held,  the 
second  service  being  placed  in  the  afternoon.  Some  years 
after  the  erection  of  the  church  building,  the  congregation 
became  too  large  to  be  comfortably  accommodated,  and  in 
3824  a  gallery  was  built.  The  church  was  the  finest  and 
most  capacious  one  in  the  town.  The  pulpit  was  built  on 
the  east  side  of  the  house  and  stood  upon  a  small  but 
convenient  platform.  It  was  elevated  several  feet  above 
the  seats  of  the  people  and  had  a  closet  underneath  and  a 
circular  dais  in  front.  It  was  entered  by  doors  that  were 
kept  carefully  closed  during  divine  service.  From  this 
pulpit  many  of  the  great  lights  of  our  denomination 
preached  sound  doctrine  to  large  and  intelligent  audiences. 
There  was  neither  an  Episcopal  nor  a  Methodist  Church  in 
the  town  during  the  earliest  years  of  the  century.  The 
adherents  of  those  forms  of  church  order  generally  attended 
the  Presbyterian  Church  until  they  were  strong  enough  to 
organize  churches  of  their  own  faith.  The  names  of  some 
of  the  founders  of  these  churches  may  be  found  in  the  lists 
of  early  pew-holders  of  this  Church.*  The  use  of  the 
building  was  often  granted  to  these  denominations  and  the 
pulpit  was  occupied  by   their   preachers.     The   venerable 

*  Foi-  a  list  of  these  pew-holders  see  Appendix,  Note  II.— Editor. 


216  Centennial  Memorial. 

Bishop  White,  of  Philadelphia,  accompanied  by  the  youth- 
ful Bedell,  in  later  years  the  Bishop  of  Ohio,  preached 
in  it.  Rev.  Dr.  Bascom,  one  of  the  most  celebrated  orators  of 
the  Methodist  Church  and  of  his  times,  gave  a  sermon  that 
occupied  more  than  two  hours  in  its  delivery  and  was  a 
magnificent  specimen  of  pulpit  oratory. 

The  pastoral  relation  between  the  Church  and  Mr.  Snow- 
den  was  dissolved,  June  25t]i,  1805.  An  interregnum  of 
four  years  occurred.  The  congregation  was  busy  watching 
the  slow  uplifting  uf  their  first  Church  home.  There  was 
no  cessation  of  public  worship.  Rev.  Dr.  Snodgrass  was 
often  called  to  preach  at  Sacramental  occasions.  Rev.  Dr. 
Joshua  Williams,  for  twenty-eight  years  the  able  and 
instructive  pastor  of  the  Big  Spring  Church  at  Newville; 
Rev.  Dr.  David  McConaughy  the  pastor  for  thirty-two 
years  of  the  Churches  of  Upper  Creek  and  Great  Conewago 
in  Adams  county  ;  Rev.  Dr.  John  Moody  wdio  for  fifty  3'ears 
filled  the  pastorate  of  the  Middle  Spring  Church  near 
Shippensburg  ;  and  the  Rev.  John  Linn  who  for  forty-three 
years  was  pastor  of  the  Centre  Church,  on  Sherman's  Creek, 
Perr}'  county,  frequently  preached  from  the  pulpit  of  the 
Church.  Mr.  Linn  was  a  preacher  of  great  power  and 
impressiveness.  He  was  the  pastor  of  my  own  ancestry. 
George  Robinson  my  great  grandfather  being  among  the 
first  ruling  elders  of  the  Church. 

An  ancient  book  kept  by  the  treasurer  of  the  congregation 
gives  quite  a  full  financial  history  of  the  Church,  its  regular 
Sabbath  collections,  the  names  of  the  men  who  filled  its 
pulpit,  the  amounts  paid  them  for  their  service,  the  cost 
even   of  keeping  the  horse  on  which  they  traveled  from 


English  Presbyterian  Congregation. 

Second  Street  and  Cherry  Alley. 

ERECTED   1804-6. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  TJiomas  H.  Robinson.     217 

their  homes,  the  weekly  expenses  and  the  sexton's  sahiry. 
The  old  record  is  full  of  interesting  reading  for  one  of  the 
present  day. 

It  is  a  matter  however  of  deep  regret  that  while  we  have 
a  record  of  this  nature,  the  names  and  salaries  of  the 
sextons,  the  cost  of  candles  and  candle  sticks  and  benches, 
there  was  no  record  preserved,  and  probably  none  kept, 
through  the  first  quarter  of  a  century  in  the  history  of  this 
Church  of  the  noble  men  and  women,  who  were  members 
of  it,  who  sat  at  its  communion  table,  who  attended  its 
weekly  meetings  for  prayer  and  made  it  a  leading  religious 
power  in  the  growing  community.  There  is  no  record  of 
the  marriages,  baptisms  and  deaths,  none  of  the  original 
members  of  the  Church,  no  list  of  those  who  were  added  to 
the  Church  during  the  first  twenty- five  years. 

To  the  original  bench  of  elders,  Messrs.  Weir,  Gilmor  and 
Boyd,  two  others  were  added,  John  Stoner  and  William 
Graj^don,  but  the  date  of  their  election  and  installation  is 
not  known.  It  was  probably  between  1809  and  1812.  Of 
religious  history,  of  revivals,  of  family  and  social  life,  of 
Christian  work,  but  the  barest  account  can  be  gleaned.  We 
know  the  Church  lived  on  and  waxed  stronger  and  stronger. 
We  know  their  sons  and  daughters  came  into  the  Church 
communion.  We  find  them  there  when  the  record  opens. 
To  us  now,  it  is  like  a  stream  running  underground  and 
fed  by  numerous  hidden  springs,  until  it  breaks  out  a 
strong,  clear,  cool  river. 

Names  we  have  gathered  here  and  there  from  lists  of 
pew-holders,  from  collectors'  records,  from  the  treasurers' 
accounts,  and  other  sources,  that  belonged  to  this  ancestral 


218  Centennial  Memorial. 

house  of  ours,  and  the}^  shall  not  be  lost.  Such  a  list  of 
about  three  hundred  names  of  men  and  of  godl}'  women, 
their  fellow-workers  in  the  gospel,  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  the  Church.  They  belong  to  the  first  quarter  century  of 
its  history.* 

During  the  interregnum  that  followed  the  departure  of 
Rev.  N.  R.  Snowden,  a  call  from  the  Church  was  extended 
to  Rev.  William  Kerr,  who  was  a  frequent  preacher  in 
Harrisburg  during  the  years  1806  and  1807.  For  reasons 
unknown  he  declined  to  accept  and  became  the  Pastor  of 
Donegal.  Five  of  his  children  in  later  years  became  mem- 
ber^ of  the  Church :  Dr.  James  W.  Kerr,  for  many  years  a 
Ruling  Elder  in  the  York  Presbyterian  Church;  William 
M.  Kerr,  late  president  of  the  Harrisburg  National  Bank; 
J.  Wallace  Kerr,  Mrs.  Herman  Alricks  and  Mrs.  Dr.  Edward 
L.  Orth.  The  last  named  only  survives  and  is  a  resident  of 
Pittsburgh.    Mr.  Kerr  died  in  the  early  years  of  his  ministry. 

The  second  Pastor  of  the  Church  wfis  the  Rev.  James 
Buchanan.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  to  the  people  on 
May  17,  1807,  and  during  the  rest  of  that  year  continued  to 
fill  the  pulpit  as  a  stated  supply.  He  was  a  3^oung  man, 
not  yet  ordained  to  the  ministry,  but  his  services  proved  to 
be  so  acceptable  to  the  congregation  that  he  was  called  to  be 
pastor.  On  September  29,  1808,  he  was  ordained,  and  on 
February  13,  1809,  after  preaching  to  the  congregation  for 
nearly  two  years,  he  was  installed.  He  remained  in  the 
pastorate  until  September  20,  1815,  when  he  was  released 
from  the  charge  on  account  of  ill  health.     His  term  of  ser- 

*  For  this  list  see  Appendix,  Note  III. — Editor. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     219 

vice  was  over  eight  years,  though  as  pastor  he  was  with  the 
Church  between  six  and  seven  years  only.  At  his  installa- 
tion Parson  Snodgrass,  of  Old  Hanover,  presided  and  gave 
the  charge  to  the  young  pastor,  and  Rev.  James  R.  Sharon, 
Pastor  of  Paxtang  Church,  preached  the  sermon.  Mr. 
Buchanan  was  called  on  a  salary  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  for  three-fourths  of  his  time.  The  remaining  fourth 
was  given  to  a  small  congregation  at  Middle  Paxton,  or 
Dauphin.  Fifty  pounds  more  were  given  for  this  additional 
service.  The  whole  two  hundred  pounds  was  in  the  old 
Pennsylvania  currency  and  amounted  to  about  five  hun- 
dred dollars.  After  leaving  this  Church  and  recovering  his 
health,  Mr.  Buchanan  was,  for  twenty-one  years,  the  greatly 
beloved  Pastor  of  the  Church  in  Greencastle.  He  died  at 
Logansport,  Ind.,  in  1843,  after  a  ministry  of  over  thirty-six 
years.  Dr.  DeWitt  and  others  who  knew  him  in  later  years 
gave  descriptions  of  him  from  which  we  draw  the  following 
portrait: 

He  was  a  man  of  tall  form,  commanding  presence  and 
great  gravity  of  manner.  No  one  could  mistake  either  his 
character  or  his  profession.  He  was  neat  and  scrupulous  in 
dress  and  courteous  in  his  bearing.  His  grave  and  dignified 
manner  rebuked  all  levity  and  lightness,  while  his  real 
goodness,  purity  and  sympathy  with  men  attracted  their 
esteem  and  reverence.  He  was  universally  regarded  as  a 
good  man  and  a  man  of  great  force  of  character.  His  ser- 
mons were  short,  compact  and  precise,  remarkably  so  for 
that  day,  when  sermons  were  often  ver}'- lengthy  and  diffuse. 
Few  men,  it  has  been  said,  could  sa}^  so  much  as  he  in  so 
few  words.     He  was  not  regarded  as  an  eloquent  preacher, 


220  Centennial   Memorial. 

but  he  was  a  clear,  able  and  instructive  one,  and  his  sincer- 
ity and  deep  earnestness  made  him  very  impressive.  His 
discourses  were  prepared  with  great  care,  committed  to  mem- 
ory and  then  delivered  memoriter.  He  had  a  very  low  esti- 
mate of  his  own  abilities.  Owing,  doubtless,  to  a  deranged 
condition  of  his  physical  system,  he  was  nervous  and  subject 
to  fits  of  depression,  and  at  times  fell  into  states  of  melan- 
choly. While  at  Greencastle  he  became  so  nervous  and 
timid  that  he  refused,  for  a  time,  to  perform  marriages  even, 
between  members  of  his  own  congregation.  The  late  be- 
loved elder  of  this  Church,  John  A.  Weir,  narrated  the  fol- 
lowing incident  in  his  pastorate :  Having  given  out  a  hymn 
one  Sabbath  morning,  the  singers  of  the  choir,  for  some 
unknown  reason,  neglected  to  sing.  Mr.  Buchanan  closed 
the  service  abruptly,  giving,  on  the  following  day,  as  the 
reason :  "  If  the  singers  could  not  sing,  the  preacher  could 
not  preach."  Mr.  Buchanan  was  always  remembered  by 
this  congregation  as  a  man  and  a  preacher  who  was  worthy 
of  highest  confidence  and  affection.  And,  during  his  brief 
pastorate,  the  Church  increased  in  numbers,  intelligence 
and  spiritual  power. 

This  brief  account  of  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Buchanan  w^ould 
be  incomplete  were  it  to  omit  one  event  that  has  resulted  in 
very  great  blessings  upon  the  Church  in  all  its  subsequent 
history.  They  may  not  have  been  publicly  recognized,  but 
the  greatest  forces  in  nature  and  in  grace  alike  work  silently 
and  unseen.  Some  time  during  that  jiastorate,  probably 
about  the'  year  1812,  the  Woman's  Prayermeeting  of  this 
Church  w^as  started.  Who  were  its  originators  and  early 
members  is  not  known.     No  record  was  kept  of  its  weekly 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.   TJionias  H.  Robinson.     221 

meetings.  It  was  without  doubt  the  first  prayermeeting  of 
the  kind  in  Harrisburg  and,  so  far  as  known,  in  Central 
Pennsylvania.  Those  early  times  were  not  favorable  to  the 
Christian  activity  of  the  female  members  of  the  Church. 
There  was  no  men's  prayermeeting  in  existence,  and  when 
in  subsequejit  years  the  men  of  the  church  were  drawn  into 
the  service  of  public  prayer,  woman's  voice  was  never  to  be 
heard  at  the  altars  of  public  prayer.  This  meeting  of  tlie 
Christian  women  has  been  faithfully  continued  for  some 
eighty  years.  It  has  been  a  quiet  but  mighty  power  in  the 
spiritual  history  of  the  Church.  The  numbers  attending  it 
have  never  been  large,  but  they  have  been  the  gifted  and 
consecrated  women  of  the  Church.  In  times  of  spiritual 
depression  and  in  times  alike  of  revival  this  invaluable 
gathering  of  devoted  women  lias  met  every  week  at  the 
mercy  seat,  and  carried  thither  in  their  hearts  of  love  and 
longing  the  interests  of  this  Church.  Many  years  ago,  it  is 
not  known  how  far  back,  the  meeting  joined  alms  with  their 
prayers,  and  at  times  as  large  a  sum  as  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  liave  been  given  by  it  in  a  year  to  Christ's 
cause.  Every  true  heart  will  say  of  this  meeting  "Esto 
Perpetua." 


For  four  years  after  the  departure  of  Mr.  Buchanan,  or 
until  November  12,  1819,  the  Church  was  without  a  pastor 
and  its  pulpit  was  dependent  upon  irregular  supplies.  It 
did  not  sit  down  with  folded  hands.  The  history  of  one  of 
the  noblest  organizations  within  this  Church  dates  its  origin 
in  that  interregnum  of  four  years. 


222  Centennial  Memorial. 

In  the  year  180-i  a  Sunday-school  was  started  in  the  city 
of  New  York  by  Divie  Bethune,  a  member  of  a  renowned 
family  of  that  name.  It  has  the  credit  of  being  the  first 
Sabbath-school  in  America.  But  the  honor  must  go  farther 
back.  In  1793  a  Sunday-school  was  started  in  the  same  city 
of  New  York,  by  Katy  Ferguson,  a  colored  woman.  Indeed 
as  early  as  1786  we  hear  of  one  established  by  Bishop 
Asbury,  of  the  Methodist  Church,  in  Hanover  county,  Vir-. 
ginia.     Little  is  known  of  it  save  that  it  was  started. 

In  the  spring  days  of  1816,  several  earnest  women  in  this 
little  Church,  without  a  pastor,  on  the  banks  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, determined  to  imitate  the  good  example  set  else- 
where and  start  a  Sunday-school.  They  do  not  seem  to 
have  met  much  encouragement  from  their  husbands  and 
brothers.  It  was  wholly  an  undertaking  of  the  women. 
The  first  meeting  for  organization  was  held  August  16, 
1816,  at  the  residence  of  Mrs.  John  Wright,  then  the  post- 
office,  No.  13  South  Market  Square.  It  was  a  two-story  log 
house,  weather  boarded,  and  painted  a  dingy  brown.  The 
report  of  the  meeting  says  that  "  a  respectable  number  of 
ladies  were  present."  There  were  no  men  in  the  company. 
Mrs.  Richard  T.  Leech,  the  wife  of  a  subsequent  elder  of  the 
Church,  presided,  and  Miss  Rachel  Graydon  acted  as  Secre- 
tary. A  constitution  was  adopted.  The  society  was  to  be 
known  as  "  a  society  for  the  encouragement  and  promotion 
of  Learning,  Morality  and  Religion  by  means  of  Sabbath- 
schools,  at  Harrisburg."  The  society  was  to  be  composed 
of  persons  of  all  the  existing  religious  denominations  then 
in  the  town.  It  was  to  be  unsectarian,  but  it  was  soon  found 
that  none  but  Presbyterians  were  interested  and  active  in 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.   Thomas  H.  Robinson.     223 

it.  Officers  were  chosen  as  follows :  President — Mrs.  Captain 
Alexander  Graydon ;  Vice-President — Mrs.  Richard  M.  Grain; 
Secretary — Miss  Rachel  Graydon;  Treasurer — Mrs.  Henry 
Hall ;  Managers — Mrs.  George  Fisher,  Miss  Abigail  Wyeth, 
Miss  Eliza  English,  Mrs.  R.  T.  Leech  and  Miss  Catharine 
Hubley. 

By  special  arrangement  two  of  them  were  to  alternate 
each  Sabbath  in  performing  the  duties  of  Superintendent. 
The  school  was  opened  on  September  22,  1816.  An  equi- 
noctial storm  of  great  violence  was  then  prevailing,  the  day 
was  inclement  and  dreary.  The  school  met  in  the  old 
academy  building  on  Market  street  between  Third  and 
Fourth  streets.  There  were  present  eighteen  teachers  and 
sevent}^  scholars.  There  was  no  fire  provided  though  the 
day  was  a  cold  one,  and  there  were  no  seats  for  the  teachers. 
They  taught  their  classes  standing  and  continued  to  do  so 
during  the  first  year.  The  names  of  the  first  teachers  are 
given  and  they  indicate  that  they,  as  well  as  the  managers 
of  the  school,  were  all  Presbyterians.  They  are  all  young 
ladies.  Misses  Juliana  Fisher,  Sally  Hill,  Sally  Hanna 
[Jacobs],  Rebecca  Jones  [Irvin-Allison],  Louisa  Kean  [Pow- 
ers], Juliana  Stoner,  Mary  Hanna  [Tod],  Mary  Miller, 
Elizabeth  Hubley,  Mary  Wyeth  [McKinley],  Caroline 
Henry,  Catharine  Brunson,  Rachel  Graydon,  Maria  Murray, 
Jane  Mitchell  [Dr.  Thomas  Whiteside],  Ruth  Allen  [John 
Whiteside],  Eliza  Ziegler  [Hebt],  and  Mary  Graydon  [Hub- 
bard]. Nearly  all  of  them  were  in  later  years  more  widely 
known  in  the  Church  and  community  under  their  married 
names.     They    are  the  leaders  in  the  large  procession    of 


224  Centennial  Memorial. 

Sunday-school  teachers  of  the  Presbyterian  churches  of  this 
city  for  seventy-eight  years.     All  honor  to  their  memory. 

The  names  of  the  seventy  scholars  of  that  first  day's 
session  have  also  been  preserved.*  It  was  a  mixed  school, 
and  made  up  of  children.  Thirty-three  were  white  and 
thirty-seven  were  black.  An  examination  of  the  names  in- 
dicates that  very  few  of  them  were  from  the  regular  families 
of  the  congregation.  The  enterprise  was  of  a  missionary 
character  among  the  neglected  and  poor.  Of  the  eighteen 
young  women  of  this  Church  who  took  the  original  classes 
in  this  school,  many  in  after  years  and  down  to  my  own 
pastorate  were  famous  for  their  good  works  and  high  intelli- 
gence.    It  is  to  the  honor  of  all  concerned  in  the  school  that 

*MaJes,  White. — Samuel  Barnes,  Joseph  Russell,  Peter  Miller,  John 
Young,  Leonard  Kline,  George  Geiger,  James  Gillespie,  Charles  Mc- 
Mullin,  Henry  Michael,  John  Maloney. 

Females,  TVliitc. — Catharine  Young  [3eig],  Maria  Newman,  Susanna 
Vance,  Catharine  Stahl,  Susan  Weaver,  Catharine  Stence,  Elizabeth 
Over,  Mary  Hill,  Margaret  Howard,  Susan  Lawyer,  Mary  Ann 
Michael,  Peggy  Ely,  Julia  Ann  Weaver,  Ellen  McMullin,  Ann  Myers, 
Ann  Brestle,  Ann  Johnson,  Mary  Over,  Maria  Clark,  Nancy  Rech- 
kard,  Peggy  Whiting,  Julia  Ann  McMullin,  Polly  Fager. 

Males,  Black. — Charles  Butler,  Samuel  Dutcher,  Sam.  Green,  Eli 
Norwoss,  David  Owens,  Samuel  Johnston,  John  Fayette,  Henry 
Fayette,  George  Fayette,  Heni'y  Johnston,  John  McClintick,  Wm. 
McClintick,  Charles  Butler,  Sr.,  Lerin  Johnston,  Geo.  Carr,  John 
Davis,  Wm.  Crawford. 

Females,  Black. — Rebecca  Anderson,  Maria  Capp,  Catharine  Irwin, 
Nancy  Smith,  Eliza  Dutchess,  Mrs.  Polk,  Fannie  Fayette,  Charlotte 
Owens,  Judith  Richard,  Jane  Chamberlain,  Mary  Ann  Chamberlain 
Hester  Dickinson,  Mary  Ann  Dickerson,  Maria  Thompson,  Daphna 
Baker,  Matilda  Dickinson,  Mary  Smith,  Leah  Blak,  Sallie  Randall, 
Mary  Poole.— EDITOR. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     225 

no  miserable  prejudice  against  classes  or  against  color  ham- 
pered the  flow  of  their  Christian  charity. 

At  the  opening  of  the  school  a  formal  address  was  made 
by  Dr.  Samuel  Agnew,  of  blessed  memory,  afterwards  a 
Ruling  Elder  in  the  Church.  And  before  the  first  year 
ends  we  find  several  men  are  named  as  General  Super- 
intendents, or  patrons  of  the  school.  Rev.  George  Lochman, 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  Rev.  F.  Rauhauser,  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  Rev.  James  Buchanan,  Dr.  Agnew 
and  William  Graydon,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The 
school  started  bravely  and  soon  won  favor  and  grew 
rapidly.  The  first  semi-annual  meeting  of  the  society  was 
held  in  a  house  that  stood  on  the  spot  where  this  Church 
now  stands.  It  will  be  impossible  to  follow  in  detail  the 
very  interesting  history  of  the  school.  New  managers  and 
new  teachers  came  in  to  bear  a  hand  in  the  work.  The 
school  grew  rapidly.  In  1818,  the  second  year  of  its  life, 
there  were  one  hundred  and  seventy  scholars  enrolled.  In 
this  year  also  male  teachers  were  added  to  the  corps,  and 
gentlemen  were  also  permitted  to  become  subscribers  to  its 
support.  The  women,  however,  held  the  reins  of  manage- 
ment and  finely  did  their  work.  The  receipts  of  the 
society  in  1818  for  the  support  of  the  school  amounted  to 
seventy  dollars.  This  was  a  n^ble  sum  for  those  days. 
There  is  no  intimation  that  during  those  early  years  there 
were  any  collections  taken  up  in  the  classes.  The  report  of 
the  library  during  the  first  three  j^ears  gives  us  some  hints 
about  the  character  of  the  teaching  and  expenses  of  the 
school.      There   were   seventy-one    books    in   the   library. 


226  Centennial  Memorial. 

Mention  is  made  of  the  following  things  as  already  owned 
or  contributed  by  several  donors  whose  names  are  given  : 

Nine  dozen  shorter  catechisms,  seven  dozen  testaments, 
one  dozen  and  a  half  of  spellers,  three  dozen  and  a  half  of 
primers,  four  psalm  and  hymn  books  and  thirty-four  tracts. 

In  1819  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Churches,  organized 
Sunday-schools  of  their  own,  and  drew  away  many  scholars. 
The  original  school  now  became  distinctively  a  Presbyterian 
one.  It  had  been  under  Presbyterian  management  and 
teaching  from  the  outset,  though  in  name,  a  union  school. 
The  change  to  three  denominational  schools  took  place 
with  great  harmony.  The  children  of  the  Churches  now 
came  more  freely  into  the  Church  schools.  The  original 
school  was  reduced  in  numbers  by  the  exodus,  but  the 
number  in  the  three  schools  was  much  greater  than  in  the 
one. 

On  the  first  Sunday  of  Januar}'-,  1820,  the  Presbyterian 
school  opened  with  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  scholars, 
of  whom  twenty-nine  were  black.*     A  few  years  later  the 

*  The  following  ai*e  the  names  of  the  scholars  : 

Females,  White. — Rose  Wright,  Sarah  Dougherty,  Rebecca  Wills, 
Jane  Wills,  Margaret  Berryhill,  Catharine  Clark,  Sarah  Curzon,  Ann 
Keely,  Elizabeth  Nabb,  Fanny  Wagoner,  Mary  Ann  Wright,  Ellen 
McMullin,  Mariann  Capp,  Emeline  Armstrong,  Margaret  Campbell, 
Elizabeth  Downing-s,  Ann  Mucheron,  Polly  Thompson,  Catharine 
Heickel,  Mrs.  W.,  Polly  Swartz,  Hannah  Smith,  Kitty  Gilespy,  Lo 
Reeves,  M.  Megraw,  Theodosia  Graydon,  E.  Good,  Betsey  Sloan, 
Mary  Ann  Martin,  Eliza  Green,  Sarah  Floyd,  Rebecca  Dubbs,  Mary 
Ann  McKinney,  Mary  Allison,  Anne  Adams,  Eliza  Waggoner,  Mary 
Frazer,  Maria  Irwin,  Matilda  Kvmkel. 

Males,    White.— Solomon    Waggoner,    David  Waggoner,   William 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Tfiomas  H.  Robinson.     227 

black  children  were  withdrawn  to  schools  of  their  own. 
We  recognize  now  in  the  list  of  the  scholars  the  names  of 
the  children  of  the  Church,  among  them  two  who  in  later 
years  became  ministers  in  the  Church,  Rev.  Charles  A. 
Wyeth  and  Rev.  Benjamin  J.  Wallace,  D.  D.,  the  brother  of 
the  late  Mrs.  Dr.  DeWitt. 

The  school  had  heretofore  been  held  in  the  old  Academy 
and  the  court  house.  It  was  now  removed  to  the  Church 
on  Second  street  and  Cherry  alley  and  occupied  the  audience 
room.     After  1824,  the  unfinished  gallery  was  put  in  order 

Macchesney,  C.  Augustus  Wyeth,  Joseph  Russell,  Geoi'ge  Kunkel, 
John  Young,  Joel  Hinckley,  Hugh  Berryhill,  Isaac  Hyars,  Michael 
Balsley,  Samuel  Lindy,  Christian  Lincly,  Theodore  Franks,  Robert 
Harris,  William  Harris,  William  F.  Bryan,  Edward  D.  Bryan,  Ben- 
jamin Wallace,  Henry  Stimmel,  Albert  Stimmel,  Robert  Elder, 
Henry  Lyon,  Lewis  Wyeth,  Richard  Bryan,  John  B.  Martin,  Joshua 
E.  Forster,  Andrew  Stewart,  James  Gillespie,  George  Johnson, 
Samuel  Spahn,  Franklin  Cole,  James  Sloan,  William  Good,  Peter 
Sowl,  William  Sowl,  William  Kelly,  Lewis  Kelly,  John  Sloan,  Henry 
Cole,  Robert  McElwee,  John  Wagner,  Thomas  Lytle,  John  Lytle, 
Joseph  Sowl;  Jacob  Sowl,  Charles  Perley,  Eustus  Perley,  Wm.  Reem, 
Irwin  M.  Wallace,  Edward  L.  Orth,  Richard  C.  Nabb,  Augustus 
Gallaher,  John  Johnson,  William  Floody,  Geoi'ge  Balsley,  Philip 
Linday;  Joseph  Wilson,  William  Dotterick,  William  Waggoner, 
Charles  Floody,  John  Silsel,  William  Silsel,  Joseph  Grove,  John 
Cannaday,  John  Thompson,  Jeremiah  Woler. 

Females,  Black. — Elizabeth  Malson,  Maria  Malson,  Mary  Stewart 
Nelly  Bradford,  Margaret  Allen,  Jemima  Ricketts,  Sarah  Rodrick, 
Fanny  Williams,  Rebecca  Taylor.  Dinah ,  Susan  Layson. 

Males.,  Black. — George  Carr,  Ezekiel  Carter,  Jacob  Malson,  Wm. 
McClintock,  Chas.  Coll,  Eli  Noovell,  John  Fiatts,  Edward  Davis, 
Charles  Butler,  Ben.  Roberts,  John  Gould,  James  Taylor,  Henry 
Davis,  William  Laughlin,  Harry  Johnson,  John  Lewis,  John  Baptist, 
Thomas  Watson. 


228  Centennial  Memorial. 

and  used  for  the  school,  and  by  the  year  1827,  an  annex 
was  built  to  the  Church  especially  for  Sunday-school 
purposes.  The  school  soon  increased  to  its  old  numbers 
before  the  departure  of  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  scholars 
and  the  interest  of  the  Church  in  the  school  deepened. 
Annual  examinations  of  the  scholars  were  held,  which 
were  attended  by  members  of  the  Legislature.  In  1821, 
the  old  system  of  managers  who  served  as  superintendents 
alternately  was  abandoned  and  the  present  system  of  a 
permanent  superintendent  was  adopted.  The  first  to  fill 
the  office  was  Mrs.  Gov.  Snyder  with  Miss  Juliann  Fisher  as 
assistant.  Mrs.  Snyder  served  very  ably  and  acceptably  until 
her  death  in  1823,  when  Miss  Juliann  Fisher  was  chosen  to 
fill  her  place.  In  1822,  a  branch  school  of  from  60  to  70 
scholars  was  formed  at  Coxestown.  In  1825,*  Miss  Juliann 
Fisher,  greatly  to  the  regret  of  the  school  and  its  friends, 
resigned  her  position  as  superintendent  and  Miss  Abigail 
Wyetli  was  chosen  as  her  successor.  By  1827,  the  school 
had  increased  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  enrolled    scholars. 

*  July  3,  1825. — The  following  teachers  "were  iiresent  teaching 
pupils,  as  numbered  opposite  their  names,"  viz  : 

J^ema^es.— Miss  Graydon,  7;  Miss  M.  Graydon,  6;  Miss  Wyeth,  9; 
Miss  Hearne,  8 ;  Miss  Armstrong,  7 ;  Miss  Sturgeon,  6 ;  Miss  Rose 
Wright,  11 ;  Miss  D.  McKinney,  9 ;  Miss  McGonigle,  6 ;  Miss  Miller, 
9 ;  Miss  Stoner,  9  ;  Mrs.  W.  R.  DeWitt,  8 ;  Miss  Hays,  7  ;  Miss  Sloan, 
5  ;  Miss  Agnew,  5  ;  Miss  M.  McKinney,  7  ;  Mrs.  Ritchey,  10. 

Males.— Ur.  McKinney,  9;  Mr.  Lutz,  4;  Mr.  D.  Harris.  3;  Mr. 
Joseph  McKinney,  7 :  Mr.  Montgomery,  7 ;  Mr.  Sturgeon,  8 ;  Mr. 
Scull,  6 ;  Mr.  M.  W.  McKinney,  8 ;  Mr.  John  H.  Agnew,  7 ;  Mr.  H. 
Stewart,  1. 

This  is  the  only  list  of  teachers  that  can  be  found  between  1816 
and  1825.— Editor. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  TJiomas  H.  Robinson.     229 

During  that  year  the  school  was  reduced  by  the  departure 
of  fifty  scholars  to  form  the  Sunday-school  of  the  newly 
organized  Methodist  Church.  The  school  of  this  Church 
was  the  mother  school  of  all  the  early  schools  of  the  city. 

On  Sunday,  May  25, 1828,  the  infant  school  of  this  Church 
was  organized  with  twenty-four  scholars,  whose  names  are  on 
record.*  Samuel  W.  Hays,  who  in  1840  became  a  ruling  elder 
of  the  Church  became  its  first  superintendent  and  filled  the 
ofiice  with  great  acceptance  and  faithfulness  for  nearly 
twenty -seven  years,  when  he  was  obliged  by  failing  health 
to  resign.  Mr.  Hays  was  a  warm  friend  and  lover  of  the 
young  and  made  a  model  superintendent. 

In  1829,  Miss  Wyeth  resigned  the  superintendency  of  the 
main  school  and  Miss  Juliann  Fisher  was  again  chosen,  and 
filled  the  ofiice  until  3  832.  A  new  order  of  things  was  now 
inaugurated.  Mr.  Henry  Cross  was  chosen  superintendent 
in  1833,  and  filled  the  office  for  two  years.  During  its 
infancy  and  childhood  and  until  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
it  had  grown  into  stalwartness,  and  had  sent  out  from  its 
fold  three  or  four  schools  to  other  churches,  the  school  was 
managed  by  the  christian  women  of  the  Church.  They 
filled  its  superintendency.  They  did  it  nobly  and  well. 
They  have  been  from  the  birth  of  the  school  to  this  day  of 
its   great  prosperity,   the  mightiest   spiritual  force  in   the 

*  These  are  the  names  :  Catharine  Murray,  Cornelia  J.  Wright, 
Margaret  Bennet,  Julia  D.  Graydon,  Elizabeth  Harris,  Harriet 
Thompson,  Eleanor  Graydon,  Catharine  E.  Cameron,  Mary  Parker, 
Catharine  Duncan.  Mary  Wayne,  Lydia  Rees,  H.  Thompson  (colored), 
Catharine  Black,  Isabella  Buffington,  Elizabeth  Bufflngton,  William 
Mitchell,  William  Ayres,  John  Wilson,  George  Whitehill,  John  Mar- 
tin, Richard  T.  Leech,  Charles  Mahon,  Alexander  Mahon. — Editor. 


230  Centennial  Memorial. 

religious  education  of  the  children  and  youth  of  this 
congregation. 

Mr.  Cross  resigned  in  1835.  The  following  record  appears 
on  the  journal  of  the  school  for  that  year.  "Resolved  that 
Mr.  James  W.  Weir  be  appointed  superintendent  in  the  place 
of  Mr.  Cross,  resigned."  March  12,  1835,  a  prince  among 
Sunday-school  Superintendents  and  among  religious  leaders 
had  now  taken  his  place  at  the  head  of  the  school.  He 
continued  to  fill  the  place  with  remarkable  power  and 
universal  favor  until  his  death  on  March  14th,  1878,  a 
period  of  forty-three  years  and  two  days.*  At  his  death  the 
present  superintendent,  Mr.  Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell  w^as 
chosen  to  fill  the  vacant  office,  and  has  occupied  it  with 
honor  to  himself  and  blessing  to  the  school  and  Church 
for  nearly  sixteen  years. 

It  is  due  to  the  Church  in  this  historical  record  that  a 
few  words  should  be  added  concerning  the  superintendency 
of  Mr.  Weir.  It  was  a  custom  of  his,  a  fixed  law,  to  make 
a  thorough  preparation  for  the  fulfillment  of  his  duties. 
The  school  was  on  his  heart  through  the  bus};^  week.  At 
the  opening  of  each  session  it  was  his  wont  to  deliver 
a  brief  address  in  connection  with  the  reading  of  the 
scriptures.  These  addresses  were  usually  about  fifteen 
minutes  in  length.  They  were  always  looked  for  with  great 
interest,  by  the  teachers  and  scholars  alike,  and  were 
remarkable  specimens  of  condensed  thought,  strikingly 
illustrated  by  happy  anecdote  and  incident  gathered  from 

*  As  Mr.  Weir  was  acting  Superintendent  during  the  year  1834, 
on  account  of  Mr.  Cross's  illness,  he  really  served  more  than  forty- 
four  years. — Editor. 


James  W.  Weir. 

Superintendent  of  the  Sunbay-schools,   1834-1878. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     231 

his  wide  course  of  reading  and  his  intercourse  with  men. 
Very  seldom  were  they  devoid  of  deep  interest.  They 
were  never  trivial  or  common  place.  At  times  they  were 
pungent  and  powerful  appeals  to  the  heart  and  conscience 
of  all  who  heard  them.  Had  they  been  preserved  by  any 
short  hand  reporter,  they  would  have  ranked  high  in  the 
literature  of  Sunday-school  addresses.  He  made  special 
preparation  for  the  service.  His  thoughts  were  not  random 
ones,  nor  were  his  words  extempore.  They  were  chosen 
and  select.  The  school  Bible  which  he  used  for  years,  will 
be  found  still  to  bear  on  its  margins  the  brief  notes  and 
heads  of  some  of  his  addresses.  And  the  Sundaj^-school 
diary  that  he  kept  for  years  will  give  a  great  many  illustra- 
tions of  his  skill  in  meeting  this  duty  of  the  superintendent. 
Sometimes  he  would  give  on  consecutive  Sabbaths  a  series 
of  connected  addresses  on  the  beatitudes,  or  the  ten  com- 
mandments or  other  themes,  illustrating  them  with  telling 
incidents.  Sometimes  he  would  select  some  particular 
passage  in  the  lesson  of  the  day  and  give  a  graphic  address 
upon  it.  His  Sunday-school  prayers  were  also  as  remark- 
able as  his  addresses.  They  were  fitted  to  the  place  and  the 
occasion,  and  the  minds  he  was  leading  to  the  throne  of 
grace.  Though  blackboards  were  not  in  general  use  in  his 
earlier  days,  and  his  own  use  of  it  was  not  extensive,  he 
had  one.  Generally  he  placed  upon  it  only  a  single 
sentence,  but  it  was  the  very  heart  of  his  address.  The 
passage  which  he  left  on  the  board  at  his  death  and  that 
has  been  preserved  and  framed  is  a  good  illustration  both 
of  his  facile  hand  and  of  the  good  use  to  which  he  put  the 


232  Centennial  Memorial. 

blackboard.*  Pie  used  it  to  make  a  point,  to  fix  a  truth,  to 
deepen  an  impression,  to  make  a  lodgment  in  the  memory, 
and  he  succeeded  most  admirably.  His  intercourse  with  the 
school  was  most  genial  and  sympathetic.  He  was  always 
thoughtful  of  others  and  the  master  of  himself.  His 
journal  of  the  school,  seen  only  after  his  death,  reveals  how 
thoroughly  he  gave  his  heart  and  thoughts  and  powers  to 
the  spiritual  and  eternal  welfare  of  the  school.  Even  in 
his  last  hours  it  showed  itself  to  be  the  master  passion  of' 
his  heart  to  care  for  the  Sunday-school  of  this  Church.  It 
was  in  his  own  mind  at  the  moment  of  his  departure  from 
earth,  and  the  last  utterances  that  fell  from  his  lips  were 
concerning  it. 

Some  further  record  should  be  made  of  the  Infant  Sunday- 
school.  As  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  resignation  by 
Mr.  Samuel  W.  Hays  of  the  superintendency,  took  place  in 
1854.  During  the  period  intervening  between  1854  and 
1858,  the  superintendency  was  held  by  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Dixon 
for  a  part  of  the  time,  and  a  brief  season  by  Miss  Simonton. 
After  the  destruction  of  the    church  building,  March  30, 

*  It  was  the  custom  of  the  Assistant  Superintendent,  Mr.  McCar- 
reil,  to  prepare  the  blackboard  after  each  session  of  Sunday-school 
for  Mr.  Weir's  use  on  the  following  Sunday.  On  the  last  Sunday  Mr. 
Weir  was  in  the  desk,  Mr.  McCarrell  was  absent  from  the  city,  and 
hence  the  weekly  text  written  by  Mr.  Weir  for  that  day  remained 
upon  the  board.  Before  the  next  Sunday  he  was  in  his  grave.  The 
text  which  was  thus  left  undisturbed,  as  his  last  word  to  the  school, 
was,  "  Leaving  us  an  example  that  ye  should  follow  in  his  steps,"  was 
singularly  fitting  as  the  lesson  of  his  life.  The  portion  of  the  board 
containing  the  text  was  framed  and  still  hangs  upon  the  wall  in  the 
room  of  the  upper  department  of  the  school.— Editor. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     233 

1858,  Mr.  John  A.  Weir  took  charge  of  the  school  and 
directed  its  affairs  with  great  success.  Mr.  Weir  was  a 
friend  and  lover  of  children,  never  more  at  home  than  when 
he  was  surrounded  by  them,  and  busy  in  their  instruction 
and  entertainment.  His  love  for  them  was  returned  in 
bountiful  measure  by  the  children  who  were  charmed  by 
the  methods  of  his  teaching.  Failing  health  compelled  him 
in  1869,  to  resign  most  of  the  work  of  the  school  to  Mrs. 
Matilda  Feeman,  retaining  for  himself  only  a  general 
superintendency.  He  continued  to  be  a  welcome  visitant  at 
the  school  until  his  death. 

On  December  5,  1875,  the  school  was  divided  into  classes. 
On  May  7,  1876,  Miss  Julia  W.  DeWitt  was  appointed 
superintendent  and  took  charge  with  Miss  Anna  C.  Weir  as 
assistant  superintendent.  Miss  DeWitt  held  the  position 
with  great  acceptableness  until  October  12,  1882,  when  her 
place  was  filled  by  Mrs.  David  Fleming.  Mrs.  Fleming  and 
Miss  Weir  still  retain  their  positions  after  years  of  devoted 
and  successful  service,  for  which  the  Church  is  most  deeply 
grateful.  On  May  13,  1883,  the  school  was  divided  on 
account  of  the  large  numbers  attending  it  into  the  Inter- 
mediate and  the  Primary  departments,  Mrs.  Fleming  and 
Miss  Weir  retaining  their  positions  as  superintendents  of  the 
former,  and  Mrs.  G.  M.  McCauley  and  Mrs.  Helen  F.  Bruner 
being  appointed  superintendent  and  assistant  superintendent 
of  the  latter.  The  year  1883  was  a  memorable  one  in  the 
history  of  the  whole  school.  The  new  building  so  finely 
adapted  to  all  the  wants  of  the  Church,  and  so  elegant  in 
its  architecture,  was  dedicated  on  January  28th  of  that  year. 
In  March,  the  Intermediate  department  was  formed  into  a 


234  Centennial  Memorial. 

Missionary  Band,  called  the  Macedonian  Band,  and  its 
record  of  gifts  to  Home  and  Foreign  Missions  and  to  Freed- 
men  for  the  past  eleven  years  has  been  a  splendid  one.  On 
November  4,  1883,  a  library  was  presented  to  the  Inter- 
mediate department  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Fleming  in 
memory  of  a  beloved  son,  Charles  Mowry  Fleming.  The 
building  in  all  its  departments  is  beautiful  and  made  sacred 
by  the  memorials  to  beloved  and  honored  ones  who  were 
once  connected  with  the  school.  The  large  and  choice 
memorial  windows  to  the  two  brothers  and  beloved  superin- 
tendents, James  Wallace  Weir  and  John  Andrew  Weir, 
will  continue  we  trust  to  speak  for  many  years  of  their 
worth,  and  of  the  unfailing  love  of  the  Church.  The  stained 
glass  windows,  the  clock  presented  by  Mrs.  I.  S.  Kerr,  the 
speaking  portrait,  and  the  grand  words,  "Leaving  us  an 
example  that  we  should  follow  his  steps,"  the  last  traced  by 
the  "vanished  hand"  of  our  dead  leader.  Nay,  may  it  be 
said,  the  whole  building  is  a  memoral  of  Christian  love  and 
unity. 

Through  all  the  j^ears  of  its  history  since  its  early 
organization,  September  26,  1816,  the  school  has  been  the 
object  of  the  warm  affection  of  the  Church,  Its  roll  of 
teachers  is  a  grand  one.  The  piety  and  talent  of  the 
Church  have  here  found  a  place  to  pour  out  their  wealth  of 
devotion  to  Christ.  It  has  not  been  an  uncommon  thing 
for  teachers  to  spend  from  twenty-five  to  forty  years  in  the 
work  of  the  school.  Children  have  come  up  from  the 
infant  school  to  stand  at  length  in  the  church,  stalwart 
men  and  consecrated  women,  doing  Christ's  work,  and 
passing  away  with  the  ripeness  and  honors  of  age. 


William  Radcliffe  DeWitt. 

1818-1867. 

FROM    PHOTOGRAPH  TAKEN  AT  THE  AGE  OF   70   YEARS. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     235 

The  first  quarter  of  a  century  in  the  life  of  the  Churcli 
has  nearly  passed.  The  trials  of  the  wilderness  are  over. 
The  community  has  grown  into  a  borough  of  twenty-five 
hundred  inhabitants.  There  are  four  churches  in  the 
town  :  the  Reformed,  the  Lutheran,  the  Presbyterian  and  a 
small  Methodist  Church  which  had  just  sprung  into  being. 
There  were  but  two  pastors,  the  Rev.  George  Loch  man  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  and  the  Rev.  John  Rauhauser  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  popularly  known  as  the  German  Pres- 
byterian. 

The  burial  ground  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  was  for 
the  first  half  century  in  its  history  on  ground  now  occupied 
by  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  Station.  An  old  subscription 
list  signed  by  eighty  persons  in  the  congregation  of  the  date 
1818,  still  exists,  providing  for  the  purchase  of  additional 
ground.  About  the  middle  of  this  century  the  bodies  of 
the  dead  buried  there  were  removed  to  the  present  cemetery. 

In  September  1818,  William  Radcliffe  DeWitt,  a  licentiate 
of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  who  had  been  preaching 
during  the  summer  months,  his  first  sermons  to  two  small 
congregations  in  central  New  York,  visited  this  church  on 
invitation  of  some  of  its  members  and  preached  to  the 
people  for  two  consecutive  Sabbaths  and  during  the  week. 
He  met  a  very  hearty  reception,  and  on  the  fifth  of  October 
he  was  unanimously  called  to  the  pastorate.  He  accepted 
the  call,  came  on  and  took  up  his  residence  here.  The  call 
was  signed  by  the  four  elders  of  the  Church,  Moses  Gilmor, 
Samuel  Weir,  William  Graydon  and  John  Stoner,  Adam 
Boyd  having  died  May  14, 1814,  and  by  sixty-one  members  of 
the  congregation,  Mr.  DeWitt  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery 


236  Centennial  Memorial. 

of  Carlisle  on  the  26th  of  October,  1819  and  on  the  12th  of 
November  following  he  was  installed.  This  was  Dr. 
DeWitt's  first  and  only  charge.  He  continued  in  the 
pastorate  until  December  23,  1867,  the  day  of  his  death,  a 
period  of  over  forty-nine  years  of  actual  service,  and 
over  forty-eight  years  as  an  installed  pastor.  For  thirty- 
six  years  he  was  the  sole  pastor  and  for  the  remaining 
thirteen  he  had  a  colleague.  Of  the  sixty-five  persons  who 
signed  his  call  but  one  outlived  the  youthful  pastor. 
Among  them  were  men  who  in  subsequent  years  filled  high 
positions  in  civil  life  or  were  called  to  offices  in  the  Church. 
The  following  may  be  named.  Chief  Justice  Gibson  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania,  William  Findlay  and 
Francis  R.  Shunk,  governors  of  the  Commonwealth.  Messrs. 
Sloan,  Agnew,  Neilson  and  McJimse}''  in  later  years  Ruling 
Elders  in  the  Church  and  other  men  who  became  prominent 
in  their  professions.  The  Board  of  Trustees  composed  of 
noble  men,  all  preceeded  Dr.  DeWitt  into  the  other  world. 
According  to  a  roll  made  out  by  William  Graydon,  one 
of  the  elders,  the  Church  membership  at  the  opening  of  Dr. 
DeWitt's  ministry  was  seventy.  This  number  was  small 
compared  with  the  large  size  of  the  congregation.  The 
young  people  were  not  generally  communicants  in  the 
church.  They  were  not  expected  to  make  an  early  profession 
of  religion.  There  were  few,  if  any  young  people's  organi- 
zations of  an}^  kind.  The  day  of  societies  had  not  yet 
dawned  upon  the  Church.  There  was  very  little  to  attract 
youth  in  the  institutions  of  religion  and  very  little  for  them 
to  do.  The  Church  had  not  yet  learned  the  art  of  Christian 
Work  and  the  joy  of  service.     Dr.  DeWitt  has  left  on  record 


Historical  Sermon  of  Bev.   Tliomas  H.  Robinson.     237 

the  testimony  that  it  was  only  after  some  persuasion  that 
the  elders  and  other  lay  members  were  induced  to  hold 
meetings  for  prayer  which  could  be  attended  by  all,  indis- 
criminately, who  desired  to  come.  When  these  elders  and 
laymen  took  hold  of  Christian  work  and  prayer,  under  the 
leadership  of  Dr.  DeWitt,  they  soon  developed  into 
remarkably  gifted  men.  The  godly,  praying  women  were 
however  then  as  they  have  always  been  the  ornament  and 
glory  of  the  Church.  The  prayermeeting  first  established 
was  held  originally  in  private  homes,  until  no  private 
dwelling  could  hold  the  numbers  who  desired  to  attend. 
The  log  school  house  which  stood  at  the  foot  of  Capitol  Hill 
on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Walnut  streets  was  then  obtained. 
It  soon  became  too  strait  for  the  gathering  crowds.  The 
Spirit  of  God  was  among  the  people.  The  heart  of 
the  young  pastor  was  cheered  by  a  revival  at  the  opening 
of  his  ministry  and  the  church  sprung  forward  into 
new  life  and  unwonted  activities.  It  grew  rapidly.  The 
power  of  God  was  in  it.  It  became  influential  in  the 
community  and  through  all  the  years  of  Dr.  DeWitt's 
ministry  it  was  the  home  of  intelligence.  The  men  of  the 
professions  very  largely  attended  it.  It  continued  to  be  the 
leading  English  Speaking  pulpit,  as  the  pulpits  of  the 
Lutheran  and  Reformed  Churches  were  divided  between 
the  English  and  German,  in  their  Sunday  services  for 
several  years.  The  executive  officers  of  the  State  Govern- 
ment, the  Legislators  and  the  Judges  of  the  Courts  generally 
waited  upon  the  services  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Of 
the  sixteen  Governors  of  the  State  from  1790  to  1870,  the 
following  were  Presbyterians,  and  were  attendants  upon  the 


238  Centennial  Memorial. 

Sabbath  worship  of  this  Church :  Thomas  McKean,  Simon 
Snyder,  William  Findlay,  George  Wolf,  David  R.  Porter, 
Francis  R.  Shunk,  William  T.  Johnston,William  Bigler,  James 
Pollock,  William  F.  Packer,  Andrew  G.  Curtin  and  John  W. 
Geary.  The  last  was  a  member  of  the  Church  for  some 
years  before  his  death. 

Of  the  events  that  occured  in  the  history  of  this  Church 
during  Dr.  DeWitt's  pastorate  I  must  speak  briefly. 

On  January  4,  1819,  a  charter  was  obtained  from  the" 
Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania  for  the  congregation 
under  the  name  of  The  English  Presbyterian  Congregation. 
That  is  still  its  legal  title.  The  application  was  signed  by 
seventy-one  members  of  the  congregation  and  the  grant  is 
approved  by  William  Findlay,  the  Governor  of  the  Com- 
monwealth. The  charter  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Church. 

The  following  additions  were  made  to  the  Ruling 
Eldership  of  the  Church  during  the  sole  pastorate  of  Dr. 
DeWitt : 

On  February  20,  1820,  Dr.  Samuel  Agnew,  Robert 
Sloan  and  Joseph  A.  McJimsey  were  ordained  and  installed 
to  the  office;  and  on  September  11th,  1825,  John  Neilson, 
Richard  T.  Leech  and  John  C.  Capp  were  also  ordained 
and  inducted  into  the  same  office.  In  1834  James  W 
Weir,  Alexander  Sloan  and  Alexander  Graydon  were 
added  to  the  noble  band  of  Ruling  Elders  and  leaders 
of  the  Church.  In  1840  Samuel  W.  Hays  and  Alfred 
Armstrong,  in  1845  William  Root  and  William  McClean 
were  also  ordained  and  installed.  During  the  co-pastorate, 
Mordecai  McKinney,  John  A.  Weir  and  Robert  J.  Fleming, 


English  Presbyterian  Church. 

Second  Street  and  Cherry  Alley. 

ERECTED  1841-42. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thortias  H.  Robinson.     239 

in  the  year  1855,  were  added  to  the  roll.  Twenty  intel- 
ligent, earnest,  God-fearing  men  served  the  Church  as 
members  of  its  session  and  as  its  spiritual  leaders  during 
Dr.  DeWitt's  ministry.  Rarely  has  a  Church  been  honored 
with  such  a  body  of  consecrated  and  irreproachable  men. 

During  these  early  years  in  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  DeWitt, 
the  church  edifice,  though  enlarged  by  a  gallary  and  other- 
wise altered,  became  too  contracted  for  the  numbers  who 
desired  to  worship  in  it.  In  the  spring  of  1841  the  old 
church  was  torn  down,  and  the  erection  of  a  new  one  was 
begun  on  the  site  of  the  old  one  and  of  some  ground  added 
by  purchase.  During  its  construction  the  court  house  was 
occupied  both  for  the  regular  Sabbath  service  and  for  the 
Sunday-school.  The  contractor  for  the  new  building  was 
Mr.  Peter  Bernheisel,  and  it  was  opened  and  dedicated  to 
God  on  the  13th  of  January,  1842.  It  was  constructed  of 
brick  covered  by  white  cement,  and  was  universally 
regarded  as  a  structure  of  peculiar  neatness  and  beauty. 
Its  dimensions  were  eighty-four  feet  by  sixty-three.  In 
front  it  was  very  tastefully  adorned  by  a  portico,  supported 
by  pillars  of  the  Corinthian  order,  an  exact  copy,  it  was 
said,  of  a  celebrated  temple  front  erected  on  the  street  of  the 
Tripos  at  Athens  in  the  year  335  B.  C.  to  commemorate  a 
musical  victory.  The  church  was  a  two-story  building. 
The  basement  story  was  above  ground  and  contained  a 
lecture  room,  a  Sabbath-school  room,  and  a  studio  designed 
for  the  pastor.  The  latter  was  also  adapted  to  the  uses  of 
the  original  infant  school  of  the  Church.  The  audience 
chamber  above  was  a  fine  large  room,  and  with  its  three 
gallaries   would   accommodate   fulh'   a   thousand    persons. 


240  Centennial  Memorial. 

The  gallaries  were  called  into  use  only  on  grand  occasions, 
save  that  for  the  choir.  The  pulpit,  constructed  of  finely 
polished  Italian  marble,  was  regarded  as  the  cynosure  for 
for  all  eyes,  and  unrivaled  for  chasteness  and  beauty.  The 
whole  structure  was  one  of  great  beauty  and  fitness.  After 
sixteen  years  of  service  it  was  totally  consumed  by  fire  on 
the  evening  of  March  30th,  1858,  the  fire  originating  in 
some  adjacent  buildings.  During  the  ministry  of  Dr. 
DeWitt  the  Church  was  visited  by  repeated  and  signal  out- 
pourings of  Divine  grace,  by  which  many  were  brought 
into  its  communion.  The  most  noted  of  these  seasons  were 
in  the  years  1819,  1824,  1827,  1830,  1834  and  1843.  While 
Dr.  DeWitt  largely  devoted  his  thoughts  and  labors 
to  train  up  around  him  a  body  of  sound,  intelligent 
and  earnest  Christians,  and  to  develop  the  piety  of 
Christian  homes,  and  so  secure  a  permanent  and  growing 
state  of  religious  life  as  the  best  means  of  insuring 
a  stable  and  progressive  Church,  he  was  thankful  to  God 
for  these  extraordinary  tokens  of  Divine  favor.  The 
most  noted  of  these  revivals  was  in  1843,  and  it  is  well 
remembered  still  by  a  few  in  the  Church  who  then  found 
the  Christ  of  their  hopes  and  of  their  lives.  The  congrega- 
tion was  stirred  to  its  foundations.  The  entire  community 
was  awakened.  For  the  space  of  two  or  three  months  all 
except  necessary  labors  were  laid  aside  that  men  might  give 
themselves  to  the  matter  of  salvation  for  themselves  and  for 
their  fellowrnen.  The  places  of  business  were  often  closed. 
Religion  was  the  theme  of  talk  upon  the  streets.  Men  in 
the  Legislature,  then  in  session,  left  the  halls  of  legislation 
that  in  the  meetings  for  prayer  they  might  seek  the  face  of 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Tliomas  H.  Robinson.     241 

a  forgiving  God.  Two  senators  were  among  the  converts, 
one  of  whom  subsequently  became  a  minister  in  the  Epis- 
copal Church.  Several  young  men  came  into  the  Church 
who  have  since  that  time  served  here  and  elsewhere 
as  ruling  elders.  One  hundred  and  thirty  made  a  public 
profession  of  their  faith  on  the  same  day  and  the  member- 
ship of  the  Church  reached  its  highest  numbers  under  Dr. 
DeWitt's  pastorate.  The  incidents  of  that  happy  period 
were  often  rehearsed  in  subsequent  years  by  those  who  had 
shared  in  them.  They  were  the  more  cherished  in  memory 
because  they  had  followed  so  closely  upon  another  series  of 
events  that  threatened  to  be  disastrous  to  the  well  being  of 
the  Church,  and  of  which  a  brief  record  must  now  be  made, 
as  they  had  their  bearing  upon  its  history. 

In  1838  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  entire  country 
was  divided  into  two  great  branches,  known  as  the  old  and 
the  new  school.  The  division  continued  for  thirty-two 
years,  or  until  1870,  when  a  reunion  took  place,  which  we 
trust  will  become  more  thorough  and  happy  and  strong 
until  the  second  coming  of  the  Great  Head  of  all  believers. 

Into  the  causes  and  the  history  of  that  unhappy  division 
it  is  not  necessary  to  enter.  It  would  involve  very  lengthy 
statements,  too  lengthy  for  a  discourse  on  an  occasion  of 
this  kind.  It  would  also  involve  the  expression  of  personal 
opinions  and  judgments  upon  the  matters  that  had  for  years 
agitated  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  that  led  to  the 
disruption.  The  immediate  occasion  for  the  separation  of 
the  Church  into  two  bodies  may  be  found  in  the  action  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  1837  that  met  in  the  Central 
Church  of  Philadelphia  on  May  18th.     By  a  vote  of  one 


242  Centennial  Memorial. 

hundred  and  thirty-two  ayes  to  one  hundred  and  five  nays, 
the  Western  Reserve  Synod,  with  all  its  churches,  was 
declared  not  to  be  a  part  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States.  Four  days  later  the  three  Synods  of  Utica, 
Geneva  and  Genesee  were  also  by  a  vote  of  one  hundred 
and  fifteen  yeas  to  eighty-eight  nays,  "  declared  to  be 
out  of  the  ecclesiastical  connection  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church "  and  to  be  ''  not  in  form  nor  in  fact  an  integral 
portion  of  said  Church."  By  this  action  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  1837,  four  Synods,  containing  about  thirty 
Presbyteries,  several  hundred  churches  and  nearly  one 
fifth  of  the  entire  membership  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  the  country  were  exscinded  from  the  Church.  They 
were  declared  to  be  no  longer  a  part  of  the  Church  of 
their  birth,  their  training,  their  sympathies  and  their 
solemn  vows.  It  was  a  very  summary  procedure,  to 
say  the  least,  to  cut  off,  without  impeachment  and  without 
trial,  so  large  a  number  of  ministers  and  elders  and  Church 
members  from  the  Church  which  they  loved  and  honored. 

The  Assembly  of  the  next  year,  1838,  also  met  in  Philadel- 
phia. Commissioners  appeared  from  the  exscinded  Presby- 
teries and  claimed  a  right  to  seats  in  the  Assembly.  Their 
claim  was  denied  and  seats  were  refused  them.  A  new 
Assembly  was  then  constituted  of  the  friends  and  sjmipa- 
thizers  of  the  exscinded  Presbyteries,  whose  members  then 
withdrew  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Philadelphia. 
This  body  was  the  first  of  the  so-called  new  School  Assem- 
blies. The  two  Assemblies  continued  in  session  for  several 
days,  each  claiming  to  represent  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
the  United  States.     This  Church  was  called  upon  to  decide 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     243 

with  which  of  these  two  bodies  it  would  cast  its  lot.  A  full 
history  of  the  action  taken  by  the  congregation  has  been 
preserved  in  the  handwriting  of  Rev.  Dr.  DeWitt,  the  pastor 
of  the  Church.*  Three  propositions  were  brought  before  the 
people  and  fully  considered,  namely,  (1)  To  recognize  and 
acknowledge  as  the  General  Assembl}^  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  that  body  of  commissioners  who  met  in  the  Seventh 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia,  or  the  body  subse- 
quently known  as  the  Old  School  General  Assembly ;  (2) 
To  recognize  and  acknowledge  as  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  that  body  of  commissioners  who 
met  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia,  or  the 
body  familiarly  known  subsequently  as  the  New  School 
General  Assembl}^;  or  (3)  to  decline  the  jurisdiction  of 
either  body  and  also  of  all  the  subordinate  Synods  and 
Presbyteries,  and  to  assume  the  position  of  an  independent 
Presbyterian  Church.  On  July  2,  1838,  the  Church  with- 
drew from  the  control  of  all  the  higher  ecclesiastical  courts 
and  became  an  independent  Presbyterian  Church. 

This  action  was  taken  with  three  or  four  voices  dissent- 
ing. This  action  of  the  Church  was  without  doubt  mainly 
due  to  two  causes.  First,  the  Church  by  a  very  large 
majority  sympathized  with  the  new  school  branch  of  the 
Presbyterian  body  in  the  country  and  especially  regarded 
the  acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1837  in  the  excision  of 
the  four  Synods,  and  the  proceedings  that  grew  out  of  them 
as  unconstitutional  and  unjust  and  unkind ;  and  second, 
the  Church  was   unwilling  to   have   the   pastoral  relation 

*  See  Appendix,  Note  IV.— Editor. 


244  Centennial  Memorial. 

between  it  and  Dr.  DeWitt  dissolved,  as  he  declared  it 
would  be  necessary  for  him  to  withdraw  from  the  pastorate 
should  the  congregation  decide  to  acknowledge  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Old  School  General  Assembly. 

The  indeiDendent  position  assumed  by  the  Church  was 
maintained  until  November  5,  1840,  when  it  was  received 
into  the  Presbytery  of  Harrisburg,  in  connection  with  the 
New  School  General  Assembly,  and  so  remained  until  all 
divisions  were  lost  in  the  happy  re-union  of  eighteen 
hundred  and  seventy.  It  was  a  severe  trial  to  this  Church 
to  be  severed  from  the  great  body  of  the  Presbyterian 
Churches  in  Central  Pennsylvania.  It  had  walked  with 
them  in  happiest  harmony  for  nearly  half  a  century.  Two 
other  churches,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Carlisle 
and  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  York  had  preceeded  this 
Church  in  recognizing  the  New  School  General  Assembly. 
The  Presbytery  of  Harrisburg  was  a  very  small  body,  made 
up  of  widely  scattered  churches.  It  required  no  small 
amount  of  courage  and  fidelity  to  principle  for  these  few 
scattered  congregations  in  the  midst  of  a  large  body  of 
churches  to  take  and  maintain  for  over  thirty  years  the 
stand  they  had  assumed,  and  that  put  them  out  of  fellow- 
ship with  old  friends.  The  little  Presbytery  of  Harrisburg 
was  like  a  small  but  very  happy  household  and  this  Church 
felt  for  about  one  third  of  a  century  the  power  of  its  attrac- 
tiveness. 

Within  a  few  years  after  the  remarkable  revival  of  1843, 
a  spiritual  re-action  occurred.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  in 
the  history  of  our  fickle  human  nature.  The  Church  be- 
came cold  in  its  religious  life  and  lost  its  power  upon  the 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  TJiomas  H.  Robinson.     245 

world.  There  were  but  few  conversions  and  the  member- 
ship of  the  Church  decreased  b}"  death,  by  removal  to  other 
communions  and  b}'  a  few  defections  from  the  faith.  The 
heai:t  of  the  pastor  became  discouraged.  The  burden  of 
years  was  coming  upon  him  and  he  determined  to  withdraw 
from  most  of  the  active  duties  of  the  pastorate  and  commit 
the  work  to  such  a  colleague  as  the  congregation  might  call 
to  co-operate  with  him  in  the  care  of  the  Church.  On 
February  6,  1854,  his  request  that  a  co-pastor  be  associated 
with  him  was  presented  to  a  meeting  of  the  congregation, 
and  after  resolutions  expressive  of  regret  and  of  their  con- 
tinued confidence,  his  request  was  granted.  In  pursuance 
of  this  arrangement  Mr.  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  who  had  just 
finished  his  studies  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary, 
Allegheny,  Pa.,  was  invited  to  preach  in  the  pulpit  on  the 
last  Sabbath  in  June  and  the  first  Sabbath  in  Jul}^  of  1854. 
He  preached  on  those  Sabbaths  and  the  Wednesday  evening 
intervening,  and  on  July  5th  was  called  to  be  a  colleague 
with  Dr.  DeWitt  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Church.  He  ac- 
cepted the  call  and  entered  upon  the  work  on  the  first 
Sabbath  of  October  of  the  same  year.  He  had  been  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  a  few  days  before  his  visit.  He 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  and  installed  in  the  pastorate 
on  January  21st,  1855.  It  was  his  first  pastorate  as  it  had 
also  been  that  of  his  three  predecessors,  and  it  proved  to  be 
his  only  pastorate  as  it  also  was  that  of  Dr.  DeWitt.  The 
terms  of  service  in  the  Church  of  the  third  and  fourth  pas- 
tors amounted  to  nearly  eighty  years,  thirteen  of  which 
were  in  common.  The  relations  between  the  pastors  were 
most  fraternal  and  kindlv  in  character. 


246  Centennial  Memorial. 

During  all  his  ministry,  Dr.  DeWitt  had  proved  to  be  a 
fast  friend  and  supporter  of  missions,  home  and  foreign, 
and  the  Church  fully  sympathized  with  him.  His  elders 
were  greatly  interested  in  these  fields  of  labor.  Both  Dr. 
DeWitt  and  one  of  his  elders,  James  W.  Weir,  were  made 
corporate  members  of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  Foreign  Missions.  The  interest  in  foreign  missions  was 
stimulated  by  the  many  years  of  service  of  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  as  a  missionary  in  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
Miss  Mary  Ann  McKinney,  sister  of  Honorable  Mordecai 
McKinney,  and  wife  of  Rev.  William  Patterson  Alexander. 
She  spent  twenty  years  of  devoted  service  on  the  Islands. 
One  of  her  sons,  William  DeWitt  Alexander,  late  a  com- 
missioner of  the  Provisional  Government  of  the  Sandwich 
Islands  to  the  United  States,  has  for  many  years  been  prom- 
inent in  public  affairs  in  those  Islands. 

There  were  at  my  coming,  in  1854,  about  one  hundred 
and  seventy  members  in  the  communion  of  the  Church. 
Forty  years  have  since  passed  and  but  twelve  of  that  number 
now  remain  on  the  roll,  A  few  others  are  still  living  and 
are  in  the  fellowship  of  other  churches,  but  the  great 
majority  have  departed  this  life  in  the  faith  of  Christ's  holy 
name. 

Of  this  fourth  occupant  of  the  pastorate  the  following 
facts  may  be  stated:  He  was  born  at  North  East,  Erie 
county,  Pennsylvania,  January  30, 1828.  In  1850  he  gradu- 
ated from  Oberlin  College,  Ohio,  and  in  May,  1854,  from  the 
Western  Theological  Seminary.  In  coming  here  he  came 
back  to  the  early  home  of  his  ancestry.  Thomas  Robinson, 
his  ancestor  of  the  sixth  generation  back,  was  among  the 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     247 

first  settlers  of  Donegal  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century. 
Philip  Robinson,  son  of  Thomas,  and  his  great  great  grand- 
father, was  among  the  founders  of  Old  Hanover  Church* 
and  resided  on  a  farm  at  the  mouth  of  Manada  Gap.  A 
fort,  known  as  Robinson's  Fort,  and  a  place  of  refuge  and  of 
defence  during  the  Indian  wars  about  the  middle  of  the  last 
century,  is  mentioned  in  the  Pennsylvania  Archives.*  His 
eldest  son,  George  Robinson,  removed  to  the  head  of  Sher- 
man's creek.  Perry  county,  about  1754,  and  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Old  Centre  Church,  and  one  of  its  first  ruling 
elders.  Upon  his  farm  also  stood  a  fort,  mentioned  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Archives  as  George  Robinson's  Fort,  into 
which  the  the  inhabitants  of  the  valley  fled  upon  incursions 
of  the  Indians.  He  was  also  a  captain  in  service  during  the 
times  of  the  Revolution.  My  grandfather,  Thomas  Robin- 
son, the  youngest  son  of  George  R.,  removed  to  Erie  county 
in  1798,  and  was  among  the  first  settlers  on  the  shores  of 
Lake  Erie.  He,  with  a  few  others,  founded  the  first  Presby- 
terian Church  in  that  region,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
bench  of  elders.  I  came  here  a  child  of  the  Covenant, 
through  many  generations,  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Scotch-Irish  blood  and  Presbyterian  faith.  It  is 
needless  to  say  I  found  myself  at  home.  My  ancestry  lay 
buried  in  several  of  the  ancient  church  yards  of  this  region. 
As  in  the  case  of  my  predecessor,  Dr.  DeWitt,  the  first 
year  of  my  ministry  was  blessed  and  brightened  by  a  gra- 
cious revival  of  religion.  Several,  who  at  that  time  made  a 
profession  of  their  faith  in  Christ,  are  still  active  and  devoted 

*  It  stood  on  Philip  Robinson's  farm. 


248  Centennial  Memorial. 

workers  in  the  Church  of  Christ.  The  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association,  of  this  city,  which  has  so  long  been  an 
agency  of  blessing,  was  instituted  in  the  Lecture  Room  of 
this  Church  on  December  12,  1854,  largely,  I  may  claim, 
through  my  own  urgency.  It  is  my  impression  that  it  was 
the  eighth  association  organized  in  the  United  States.  His 
Honor,  John  W.  Simonton,  was  chosen  its  first  president' 
and  a  large  proportion  of  its  earliest  officers  and  members 
belonged  to  this  congregation.  The  Association  should  cele- 
brate its  approaching  semi-centennary. 

After  the  destruction  of  the  second  church  edifice  by  fire 
on  the  evening  of  March  30,  1858,  the  congregation  met  for 
Sabbath  worship,  for  nearly  two  years,  in  Brant's  Hall,  on 
Market  street.  Several  of  the  other  churches  of  the  city 
vied  with  each  other  in  kind  and  pressing  offers  of  their 
own  church  buildings  for  our  religious  services.  The  gra- 
cious and  Christian  letters  received  from  them  are  still 
preserved.  During  that  period  the  Sunday-school  was  held, 
until  October  16,  1859,  in  the  upper  room  of  the  court 
house.  On  that  day  it  took  possession  of  the  new  school- 
room on  the  corner  of  Market  Square  and  Second  streets. 
The  entrance  upon  the  new  home  for  the  school  was  made 
an  occasion  of  great  rejoicing.  The  week-day  lecture  ser- 
vice was  held  on  Thursday,  and,  by  the  courtesy  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  was  held  in  their  lecture-room,  on  Chest- 
nut street,  until  Monday,  October  17th,  when  the  lecture- 
room  of  this  church  was  dedicated  to  God,  and  has  been  in 
use  until  this  day. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  1860,  this  Church  was  occupied  for 
the  first  time,  and  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  the  purposes 


Thomas  Hastings  Robinson. 

1854-1884. 

FROM   PHOTOGRAPH  TAKEN  AT   THE  AGE  OF   64  YEARS. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  TJiomas  H.  Robinson.     249 

of  divine  worship.  At  both  the  morning  and  evening  ser- 
vices tlie  church  was  crowded,  and  many  could  not  find  an 
entrance.  The  sermons  for  the  day  were  both  preached  by 
the  eloquent  Dr.  Rosewell  D.  Hitchcock,  of  Union  Theolog- 
ical Seminary.  They  were  sermons  of  remarkable  power 
and  great  beauty.  In  the  afternoon  the  Communion  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  was  celebrated.  For  over  one-third  of  a 
century  this  room  has  been  the  Sabbath  home  of  this  con- 
gregation. It  has  lost  none  of  its  first  attractiveness,  and 
through  all  these  years  sacred  and  precious  memories  have 
been  gathering  in  it  that  continue  to  enrich  it.  Here  the 
festal  joys  of  marriage  have  been  witnessed.  From  this 
room  the  bodies  of  our  beloved  dead  have  been  carried,  and 
laid  away  until  the  morning  of  the  resurrection.  Here 
wondrous  scenes  of  revival  have  gladdened  the  hearts  of 
Christians.  Here,  too,  during  the  long  struggle  to  save  the 
life  of  the  nation,  the  people  met,  sometimes  under  depress- 
ing fears  and  great  forebodings,  sometimes  in  periods  of 
intense  excitement  and  sometimes  for  seasons  of  devout 
thanksgiving. 

Ere  the  congregation  entered  upon  its  new  religious  home 
another  event  occurred  that  left  a  deep  impression  upon  the 
church  and  molded  its  history.  We  became  two  bands. 
Quite  a  number  of  the  Church,  by  the  circumstances  of  birth 
and  early  training,  by  their  associations  with  churches  of 
the  region,  and  by  their  own  hearty  convictions,  had,  for 
years,  preferred  that  section  of  the  Presb.yterian  Church 
known  as  the  Old  School.  'It  was  determined  to  organize 
a  new  Church  in  connection  with  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle 
and  the  Old  School  General  Assembly.     Letters  of  d  ism  is- 


250  Centennial  Memorial. 

sion  were  granted  to  all  who  asked  for  them,  and  the  present 
Pine  Street  Church  was  constituted.  The  withdrawal  re- 
duced the  Church  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  members 
the  smallest  number  for  many  years.  Pahiful  as  was  the 
breaking  up  of  many  cherished  associations,  the  departing 
of  beloved  friends  and  the  rending  of  family  ties,  time  and 
the  gentle  influences  of  divine  grace  have  been  busy  healing 
the  pains  of  separation,  and  the  growth  of  two  large  and 
strong  congregations,  the  enlarged  activities  of  Christians  in 
both  Churches,  and  the  rapid  and  substantial  growth  of 
Christ's  kingdom  in  the  city  have  demonstrated  that  the 
loving  heart  and  hand  of  God  molded  the  events  of  that 
hour  to  his  own  glory.  As  we  look  back  upon  the  events  of 
that  time,  at  the  close  of  these  thirtj^-five  years  of  Christian 
labors  and  victories  and  progress,  the  griefs  and  fears  of  the 
time  pass  away,  and,  exulting  with  the  Apostle,  we  cry: 
"Herein  we  do  rejoice  and  will  rejoice."  With  larger  hearts 
and  clearer  vision  we  recognize  to-day  the  unseen  hand 
that  then  guided  us,  that  guides  us  now,  and  evermore 
will  guide  us  to  his  own  blessed  ends. 

At  my  coming  to  the  city  in  1854  the  population  was 
about  ten  thousand.  It  is  not  far  from  forty-five  thousand 
now.  Its  churches  numbered  about  twelve.  They  have 
increased  to  over  fifty.  There  was  but  a  single  Presbyterian 
Church  with  a  membership  of  about  one  hundred  and 
seventy.  The  Presbyterian  Church  was  failing  to  keep  pace 
with  the  growth  of  the  city.  Its  Sunday-school  num- 
bered two  hundred  and  forty.  The  contributions  of  the 
Church,  both  for  its  own  support  and  for  benevolent  causes, 
were  less  than  twenty -five  hundred  dollars.     Of  this  amount 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     251 

one  thousand  dollars  were  paid  to  meet  the  salaries  of  the 
two  pastors,  that  amount  being  divided  between  them. 
There  was  no  parsonage,  and  the  pastors  paid  their  own 
house  rent.  They  were  in  no  danger  of  growing  rich  upon 
their  salaries. 

According  to  the  report  made  to  the  General  Assembly 
of  1893  in  May  last,  the  Presbyterian  Churches  of  the  city 
now  number  six,  with  two  large  and  flourishing  missions 
and  a  prosperous  growing  Church  just  beyond  the  city 
limits.  The  number  of  Church  members  has  increased  from 
one  hundred  and  seventy  to  two  thousand  and  fifty-one. 
The  growth  of  the  city  has  been  four  and  one-half  fold,  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  membership  over  twelve  fold. 
The  number  in  the  Sunday-school  has  increased  from  two 
hundred  and  forty  to  four  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
and  eleven,  or  twenty  fold.  The  contributions  of  the 
Churches  have  increased  from  twent3^-five  hundred  dollars 
for  all  objects,  to  sixty-five  thousand,  six  hundred  and 
ninety-six  dollars  during  the  last  church  year,  or  over 
twenty-two  fold.  Of  this  amount  thirty-one  thousand,  five 
hundred  and  sixty-four  dollars  were  given  directly  to 
benevolent  objects,  and  thirty-four  thousand,  one  hundred 
and  thirty-one  dollars  were  given  to  congregational 
expenses.  These  figures  show  how  under  the  fostering 
care  and  smile  of  God  these  Churches  have  waxed  in  num- 
bers and  strength. 

This  Church  alone  has  grown  from  a  Church  membership 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy  to  seven  hundred  and  seventy- 
six,  and  from  a  Sunday-school  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
members  to  one  of  seventeen  hundred  and  eighty-nine,  and 


252  Centennial  Memorial. 

from  a  contribution  for  all  causes,  its  own  home  work  and 
the  work  of  general  benevolence,  from  twenty-five  hundred 
dollars  per  year  to  over  twenty  thousand.  During  the  last 
forty  years,  the  years  through  which  statistics  have  been  in 
some  good  measure,  though  not  fully,  preserved,  the  con- 
tributions of  this  church  to  all  objects  have  been  over  half 
a  million  of  dollars.  Of  this  amount  over  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars  have  been  given  to  Home  and  Foreign 
Missions.  Large  as  these  sums  may  seem  to  be,  let  it  not 
for  a  moment  be  thought  that  they  reach  at  all  the  height 
of  our  obligation  to  God  and  our  fellow-men,  or  the  height 
of  our  ability  to  give.  No  one  has  been  made  poorer  by 
these  gifts.  The  world  has  been  enriched,  and  every  liberal 
heart  has  grown  in  spiritual  wealth.  The  benevolent  causes 
to  which  these  sums  of  money  have  been  given  are  too 
many  to  be  enumerated.  In  addition  to  those  that  are 
especially  required  by  the  General  Church,  there  have  been 
such  as  the  following :  The  American  Bible  Society,  The 
American  Tract  Society,  The  Sunday  School  Union,  The 
Benevolent  Society  of  Harrisburg,  the  Home  for  the  Friend- 
less, the  City  Hospital  and  numerous  other  causes. 

Another  series  of  events  that  had  a  great  influence  upon 
this  church  cannot  be  omitted  from  this  brief  history.  It 
affected  its  growth  and  influenced  its  piety.  It  occupied 
very  largely  for  several  years  its  thoughts  and  directed  its 
actions.  The  Church  feels  to  this  day  the  molding  power 
of  those  events. 

The  stupendous  war  of  the  Southern  Rebellion,  which  for 
nearly  five  years  evoked  the  highest  energies  of  the  nation, 
and  that   came  to   the   door   of  every  home,  and  laid  its 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.   Thomas  H.  Robinson.     253 

demands  on  every  man,  found  this  Church  and  congrega- 
tion prepared  for  sacrifices.  For  many  years  there  had  been 
an  enlarging  contest  and  struggle  in  the  State  and  in  the 
Church  over  the  questions  that  lay  at  the  heart  of  the  great 
conflict.  The  fact  cannot  now  be  overlooked.  I  found  the 
members  of  this  Church  agitated  upon  these  questions  when 
I  came  here  in  1854,  seven  years  before  the  dreadful  war 
opened  upon  us.  The  entire  New  School  Church  with 
which  this  congregation  was  connected  had  for  many  years 
been  greatly  affected  and  was  far  more  pronounced  on  the 
question  of  freedom  for  all  men  than  the  other  branch  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  But  a  small  proportion  of  the 
Presbyterians  of  the  South,  after  the  great  division  in  1838, 
cast  in  their  lot  with  the  New  School  Church,  and  these  few, 
after  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  in  1857,  four  years  before 
the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  in  1861,  withdrew  from  the 
New  School  Church  on  account  of  its  attitude  on  slavery 
and  formed  a  separate  ecclesiastical  organization.  This 
Church  was  in  hearty  sympathy  with  the  body  to  which  it 
belonged  in  its  love  of  the  country  and  in  its  opposition  to 
the  system  of  human  slavery.  It  did  not,  however,  dream 
— few  did  in  that  day — how  grave  and  terrible  a  conflict  was 
before  the  nation.  The  loyalty  of  the  people  was  put  to  the 
severest  test  and  its  faith  in  God  was  sorely  tried.  Its  love 
to  the  country  stood  the  lest  of  self-denials  such  as  the 
people  had  never  thought  themselves  capable  of  making. 
There  were  many  dark  hours  during  that  memorable  strug- 
gle. In  the  darkest  the  people  did  not  falter.  Large  and 
generous  contributions  to  be  reckoned  by  thousands  of 
dollars  were  made  to  the  Christian  and  Sanitar}'  Commis- 


254  Centennial  Memorial. 

sions  for  the  relief  of  the  sick  and  the  wounded  soldiery. 
The  women  of  the  Church  were  indefatigable  in  their  labors 
and  boundless  in  their  sympathies.  They  made  garments 
and  haversacks  before  the  general  government  was  ready  to 
meet  the  demands ;  they  opened  the  hospitalities  of  their 
homes  to  the  coming  and  going  soldiers ;  they  visited,  like 
angels  of  mercy,  the  hospitals  that  were  formed  in  the  city 
for  the  sick  and  the  wounded  from  the  fields  of  battle.  The 
junior  pastor  was  permitted  by  the  Church  to  leave  his  pul- 
pit and  spend  months  in  the  service  of  the  Christian  Com- 
mission in  Virginia  and  Tennessee.  Our  city  was  often  like 
a  camp.  The  sound  of  martial  music,  the  beating  of  drums 
and  the  waving  of  flags,  the  steady  tramp  of  armed  men, 
singing  their  patriotic  songs  on  our  streets,  the  coming  and 
going  of  regiments  and  of  brigades,  the  long  trains  of  liuz- 
zahing  armies  passing  through  the  city  and  crossing  the 
river,  with  their  faces  away  from  their  homes  and  turned  to 
the  seat  of  war,  soldiers  at  our  homes,  at  our  meetings  of 
prayer  and  in  our  Churches  at  Sabbath  worship,  the  sight 
of  Presidents  and  Professors  of  College,  of  Doctors  of 
Divinity,  of  men  high  in  the  professions  in  the  ranks,  or  as 
captains  and  as  chaplains,  and  the  sad  trains  filled  with  the 
sick  and  the  wounded  for  our  hospitals,  or  passing  through 
to  hospitals  elsewhere,  the  strange,  new  sight  of  prisoners  of 
war  on  our  streets,  these  were  some  of  the  things  that  occu- 
pied our  thoughts  for  nearly  five  long  sad  years  of  weari- 
ness and  hope.  And  then,  too,  came  the  terrible  strain  as 
we  waited  for  news  from  the  battle-fields  and  scanned  the 
lists  of  the  killed  and  .wounded  to  see  if  mayhap  the  names 
of  any  of  our  own  beloved  ones  were  there,  the  strain  as  we 


Historical  Sermon  of  Eev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     255 

waited  and  wondered  when  the  end  would  come  and  what 
the  end  would  be,  our  hushed  and  solemn  places  of  prayer, 
where  we  plead  with  God  for  our  country  ;  our  days  of  fast- 
ing and  our  days  of  thanksgiving,  too ;  our  bated  breath  as 
we  spoke  of  some  great  disaster,  a  battle  lost,  a  great  general 
fallen,  and  our  lifted  hopes  as  the  tide  turned  ;  they  were 
strange,  thrilling  days  of  which  the  children  of  to-day  can 
scarcely  form  a  conception. 

The  pulpit  of  this  Church  felt  under  bonds  to  truth 
and  to  the  country  to  do  its  part  in  those  trying  times. 
Patriotic  sermons,  "  War  Sermons,"  as  they  were  then  called, 
were  preached  from  time  to  time.  In  days  of  depression 
that  followed  any  disaster  to  our  armies,  when  saddened 
and  despondent  hearts  need  to  be  keyed  up  to  a  larger, 
firmer  trust  in  God,  and  a  firmer  hope  for  the  final  issue  in 
righteousness,  peace  and  a  united  country.  And  in  days  of 
hopefulness  and  exultation  when  the  spirit  of  thanksgiving 
to  God  needed  to  be  called  out,  this  pulpit  spoke  with  no 
uncertain  tones  and  this  Church  responded  with  no  uncer- 
tain and  wavering  fidelity  to  the  nation's  peril  and  need. 

Added  to  our  larger  concern  for  the  whole  country  this 
Church  had  its  own  precious  personal  investments  in  the 
war.  About  fifty  men  and  j^outh  belonging  to  the  families 
of  the  congregation  then,  or  but  a  little  time  before,  served 
with  the  army  of  the  Union.  They  filled  positions  from 
the  private  to  the  general.  Some  are  to-day  bearing  their 
scars.  Some  fell  on  the  field  of  battle.  One  of  the  Elders 
of  the  Church  lost  a  noble  son.  Another  had  a  son  who 
was  brevetted  as  captain  for  gallant  services  at  the  battle  of 
Weldon  Railroad,  ^^irginia,  and   who  in  that  engagement 


256  Centennial  3femorial. 

received  a  wound  that  gave  him  trouble  until  his  early- 
death  in  1883.  Others  lie  with  the  unknown  heroes  who 
fell  on  the  field  and  were  hurriedly  buried  with  no  stone  to 
mark  their  resting-place.  This  Church  had  its  share  in  the 
fears  and  the  tears  of  that  sad  conflict.  It  felt  to  its  inmost 
heart  the  savage  shot  that  laid  the  great  and  calm  leader  of 
the  nation  low.  And  when  the  end  came  and  the  white 
wings  of  peace  fluttered  over  the  battle-fields  of  strife  and 
blood,  this  Church  joined  in  the  universal  gratefulness  to 
God  that  war  was  over  and  rest  had  come.  It  had  been 
very  hard  to  carry  on  the  work  of  God  amid  the  unceasing 
excitements  of  those  perilous  years.  It  was  hard  to  get 
back  again  to  the  quiet  and  calmness  of  our  holy  Gospel. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  the  years  passed  quietly  and 
rapidly  along.  In  1867  the  venerated  senior  pastor,  now 
ripe  in  years,  was  called  to  his  reward.  Negotiations  had 
already  begun  to  heal  the  division  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  years  of  separation  had  been  continually 
demonstrating  the  substantial  unity  of  the  two  branches  of 
the  Church  in  doctrine  and  polity,  and  in  all  forms  of 
christian  work.  They  had  been  drawing  towards  each  other. 
The  common  struggles  and  sufferings  for  the  salvation  of 
the  country  had  warmed  the  hearts  of  the  people  towards 
each  other.  The  spirit  of  union  was  in  the  air.  Hopes 
were  entertained  that  there  might  be  a  fusion  of  all  the 
families  of  the  Presbyterian  genealogy.  We  became  espe- 
cially interested  in  the  re-union  movement,  because  one  of 
the  conferences  which  greatly  promoted  it  was  held  in  this 
church  during  the  session  of  the  New  School  General 
Assembly  in  1868.     In  fact  it  was  in  this  Church  and  at 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  TJiomas  H.  Robinson.     257 

that  time  that  the  report  on  the  basis  of  re-union,  as  pre- 
sented b}^  the  joint  committee  of  fifteen  through  its  chairman 
Rev.  Wilham  Adams,  D.  D.,  of  New  York,  was  adopted  by  a 
unanimous  vote.  It  was  the  harbinger  of  the  good  time 
coming. 

A  number  of  the  great  leaders  of  the  two  Churches  were 
here,  and  this  room  resounded  to  their  eloquent  and 
fraternal  addresses.  Twelve  who  have  filled  the  chair  of 
Moderator  in  the  New  School  General  Assembly  or  in  the 
Re-united  Assembly,  were  present,  viz :  Rev.  Drs.  William 
Adams,  Samuel  Hanson  Cox,  Thomas  H.  Skinner,  Henry 
B.  Smith,  George  L.  Prentiss,  Samuel  W.  Fisher,  Laurens 
P.  Hickok,  George  Duffield,  Jonathan  F.  Stearns,  Robert 
W.  Patterson,  Edward  D.  Morris  and  Henry  A.  Nelson. 
There  were  present  also  as  Commissioners  from  the  Old 
School  General  Assembly  to  confer  on  the  subject  of  re-union, 
Rev.  Drs.  Charles  C.  Beatty,  Richard  H.  Richardson,  Villeroy 
D.  Reed,  and  Chancellor  Henry  W.  Green,  Robert  Carter 
and  Henry  Day.  Addresses  were  made  by  all  the  represen- 
tatives of  the  other  assembly.  Telegrams  of  greeting  and 
brotherly  love  were  exchanged  between  the  two  Assemblies, 
and  a  common  hour  of  prayer  for  one  of  the  days  of  the 
week  was  appointed.  The  occasion  was  one  long  to  be 
remembered.  In  the  consummation  of  the  union  two  years 
later,  1870,  this  Church  most  heartily  rejoiced.  It  was 
brought  again  into  closest  and  most  happy  relations  with 
Churches  from  which  it  had  been  separated  for  a  third  of 
a  centurj',  and  to  their  hearts  and  their  homes  the  members 
of  this  Church  once  more  welcomed  the  representatives  of 
Presbyterianism  in  Cumberland  Valley. 


258  Centennial  Memorial. 

Fourteen  years  of  the  fourth  pastorate  now  followed  each 
other  in  quick  succession.  The  years  passed  quietly  away. 
They  were  years  of  mingled  sorrow  and  joy.  Gladness  and 
grief  alternated  with  each  other.  The  Church  grew  in 
strength.  It  multiplied  its  agencies  of  usefulness.  It 
increased  its  charities.  Sometimes  it  moved  along  gently 
in  the  ordinary  channels  of  grace.  The  family,  the 
Sunday-school,  and  the  sanctuary,  social  prayers,  pious 
lives,  gospel  preaching,  works  of  charit}^  among  the  poor 
were  evidences  of  the  living  power  of  true  religion.  The 
silent  dew  falling  unseen  when  men  are  asleep  has  its 
mission  in  hastening  on  the  harvest  as  well  as  has  the 
breaking  cloud  which  fills  the  thirst}^  earth  and  chokes  the 
stream  and  swells  the  river  to  a  flood.  There  were  times 
when  God  came  in  gracious  power  to  His  temple,  when  He 
crushed  the  clamors  of  worldliness  and  awakened  large 
numbers  in  a  simultaneous  concern  for  their  salvation. 
Glorious  times  they  were.  But  as  the  Master  looks  down 
into  his  vineyard,  He  rejoices  also  in  those  quiet  days  when 
under  the  light  and  warmth  of  His  smile  the  leaves  are 
putting  forth  and  the  buds  are  swelling,  when  the  flowers 
and  fruits  of  grace  are  quietly  coming  to  perfection. 

Through  those  years  we  had  our  marriage  joys.  Chil- 
dren blessed  our  homes  with  their  songs  and  laughter, 
sinners  came  into  the  kingdom  of  grace,  and  saints  left  us 
for  the  kingdom  of  glory.  New  faces  greeted  us,  and  the 
friendly  faces  of  many  years  passed  out  of  our  sight. 
Lifelong  warriors  laid  their  armor  by  and  younger  soMiers 
stepped  into  the  ranks  and  the  winning  cause  swept  on 
towards  the  final  victory. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  TJiomas  H.  Robinson.     259 

The  history  of  these  years  would  be  incomplete  were  we 
to  omit  from  the  record  certain  events  that  had  a  very 
great  and  marked  influence  upon  the  character  of  this 
Church  and  of  Presbyterianism  in  the  city.  In  the  winter 
of  1875-1876  there  occurred  in  the  city  a  revival  of  religion 
of  unusual  power  and  extent,  by  which  many  hundreds 
were  led  to  come  out  from  the  world  and  make  a  public 
confession  of  Christ.  In  the  fall  of  1875  it  was  very  deeply 
felt  that  there  was  a  pressing  need  for  a  quickening  of 
religious  life  in  all  the  Churches  and  an  awakening  of  the 
whole  city  to  the  subject  of  salvation.  An  association  of 
the  evangelical  clergy  of  the  city  discussed  and  prayed  over 
the  matter  at  its  meetings.  Several  of  the  leading  and 
most  active  Christian  laymen  were  called  into  the  confer- 
ences and  it  was  decided  to  hold  a  series  of  union  meetings 
of  all  the  Churches.  The  union  of  Churches  and  minis- 
ters was  very  general.  There  was  almost  a  complete  break- 
ing down  of  all  denominational  lines  and  a  fusion  of 
sympathies  and  labors.  A  very  happy  state  of  fraternal 
feeling  prevailed.    The  religious  movement  became  general. 

James  W.  Weir,  the  beloved  Elder  of  this  Church,  at 
one  of  the  conferences  urged  that  the  Rev.  E.  P.  Ham- 
mond, a  widely-known  Evangelist,  should  be  secured.  The 
great  confidence  felt  in  Mr.  Weir  by  all  the  Churches  led  to 
an  engagement  for  Mr.  Hammond  to  come.  Before  he 
reached  the  city  the  daily  meetings  had  become  very  large 
and  very  impressive.  The  Churches  were  awakened.  The 
Pastors  spoke  with  new  power.  The  irreligious  world 
began  to  question  what  it  all  meant.     When  the  Evangelist 


260  Centennial  Memorial. 

came  he  found  the  Churches  all  united,  earnest,  praying, 
and  assembling  in  large  numbers. 

Selecting  this  Church  as  the  most  central  and  one  of  the 
largest  in  the  city,  most  of  the  services  were  held  in  it.  At 
times  the  crowd  in  attendance  was  so  large  that  the  opera 
house  was  used.  The  services  were  held  daily.  Usually 
a  service  of  prayer  was  held  in  the  morning,  and  though 
it  occurred  during  business  hours,  it  was  very  largely 
attended.  These  morning  meetings  were  greatly  loved  by 
the  Christian  people  who  attended  them. 

In  the  afternon,  generally  at  the  hour  when  the  public 
schools  closed  for  the  day  a  service  was  held  for  children. 
Mr.  Hammond  has  been  called  "  the  children's  preacher." 
He  throughly  believes  in  the  conversion  of  children,  even 
of  tender  years,  and  makes  it  a  prime  matter  in  his  evan- 
gelistic work,  to  instruct  and  interest  the  children  and 
bring  them  to  know  and  trust,  and  love  Jesus  Christ  as 
their  personal  friend  and  saviour.  He  was  very  clear  and 
simple  and  graphic  in  his  addresses  to  them  and  wielded  a 
great  and  good  influence  upon  them. 

The  evening  services  'of  the  revival  were  the  times  ot 
greatest  public  interest.  Night  after  night  for  weeks  this 
house  was  filled  to  overflow.  Often  many  stood  during  the 
entire  service  and  many  were  compelled  to  go  away  as  a 
place  to  stand  could  not  be  had.  At  times  the  lecture  room 
was  also  opened  and  another  meeting  for  prayer  was  carried 
on  at  the  same  time. 

The  people  came  from  all  parts  of  the  city  and  from  all 
classes,  the  professions  and  the  laboring  men,  the  rich  and 
the   poor.     They  came  in  from  the  surrounding   country. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     261 

They  came  on  the  railways  from  five  to  sixty  miles.  The 
evangelist  seldom  preached  less  than  an  hour,  and  spoke 
with  great  earnestness.  He  was  at  times  dramatic  in  man- 
ner. His  sermons  were  full  of  the  Gospel,  presented,  argued, 
illustrated,  enforced  in  every  way  to  carry  light  and  con- 
viction and  persuasion  to  the  minds  and  hearts  and  wills  of 
his  hearers.  He  was  thoroughly  orthodox.  The  common 
people  heard  him  gladly.  The  working  classes  from  our 
rolling  mills  and  manufactories  and  shops  of  every  kind, 
after  the  day's  work,  would  hasten  to  the  service.  The  poor, 
the  uneducated,  were  always  ready  to  hear  him.  Some  of 
the  rich  and  fashionable  and  refined  were  not  at  home  in 
the  meetings.  Religion  was  getting  too  common  for  them, 
too  low,  too  obtrusive,  too  exciting.  They  could  not  com- 
prehend nor  endure  the  sorrows  and  tears  of  the  penitent, 
nor  the  joys  and  happiness  of  the  reconciled  who  had  found 
their  Saviour.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon  ail  who  desired  to 
remain  for  conversation  and  inquiry  upon  the  way  of  sal- 
vation were  invited  to  do  so.  Often  the  entire  audience 
would  abide  in  their  places,  and  the  evangelist,  with  a  large 
body  of  workers,  the  ministers  present  and  earnest  Christian 
laymen  would  pass  through  the  house  from  pew  to  pew  and 
seek  to  have  a  few  words  of  personal  appeal  with  those  who 
had  not  come  out  on  the  Lord's  side.  Friends  sought  their 
impenitent  friends,  Sunday-school  teachers  sought  their 
pupils,  workmen  sought  their  fellow-workmen.  The 
roughest  men  of  the  city  would  be  there,  and  moved  by  the 
strange  scene,  or  by  the  singing  of  some  sweet  hymn,  or  the 
sermon,  would  wait  for  some  one  to  come  and  talk  to  them 
about  Christ  and  salvation.     The  lecture-room  of  the  church 


262  Centennial  Memorial. 

was  at  times  crowded  with  penitents  seeking  the  peace  of 
reconciliation  with  God.  Marvellous  scenes  were  witnessed 
that  cannot  here  be  rehearsed.  There  was  no  disorder  and 
confusion  for  any  one  who  was  in  harmony  with  the  won- 
derful things  that  were  transpiring.  Religion  was  the 
supreme  topic.  The  results  were  very  marked.  All  the 
Churches  of  the  city  felt  the  power  of  the  revival.  The 
country  round  about  the  city,  the  village  and  towns  from 
fifty  to  one  hundred  miles  away  were  moved  by  reports 
of  the  meetings,  and  delegations  came  and  saw  and  heard 
and  carried  away  the  sacred  fire.  Similar  works  of  divine 
grace  and  power  were  wrought  in  the  whole  region.  Many 
hundreds  were  received  into  the  Churches.  During  that 
year  this  Church  welcomed  into  its  communion  one 
hundred  and  forty-four  persons.  One  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  of  them  on  confession  of  their  faith.  Upon  one  Sab- 
bath ninety-two  were  received,  thirty-three  of  whom 
received  baptism,  the  remainder  having  been  baptized  in 
infancy. 

That  revival  brought  to  this  Church  a  marked  change  in 
its  spirit  and  in  its  relations  to  society  and  the  world.  It 
had  been  somewhat  shut  up  in  itself.  Its  own  families  had 
been  the  objects  of  its  greatest  and  tenderest  care.  Its  outside 
work  had  been  largely  that  of  a  missionary  character.  It 
was  generous  and  liberal,  and  had  welcomed  into  its  Sunday- 
school  and  into  the  communion  from  the  families  of  the 
working  peonle  and  the  poor,  but  it  had  gained,  with  some 
injustice,  the  reputation  of  being  exclusive.  The  revival 
changed  all  this.  Multitudes  of  the  working  people  from 
our  mills  and  shops  and  manufactories  had  found  peace 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Tliomas  H.  Robinson.     263 

with  God  within  these  walls.  They  had  been  helped  to 
Christ  by  the  loving  guidance  of  the  officers  and  members 
of  this  Church.  They  loved  the  place  and  they  came  in 
large  numbers  and  knocked  for  admission  at  our  doors. 
They  felt  at  home  here.  They  wanted  the  help  and  sym- 
pathy of  Christians  here  in  their  new  life.  The  doors  of  the 
Church  were  widely  opened.  From  a  membership  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  before  the  revival,  it  reached  one  of  three 
hundred  and  seventy-two  after  it,  and  the  Sunday-school 
membership  rose  from  four  hundred  and  eight  to  seven 
hundred  and  thirty-seven.  The  Church  became  what  all 
Churches  should  be,  a  Church  of  the  people,  and  so  it  remains 
to  this  day,  and,  we  trust,  will  ever  remain.  As  in  all  past 
years  it  has  been  guided  by  the  wisdom  and  intelligence  and 
piety  of  its  best  members,  so  it  will  continue  to  be  in  all 
coming  years,  showing  how  the  religion  of  the  great  Master 
can  unite  all  classes  of  society  in  a  loving  and  holy  brother- 
hood. The  revival,  by  bringing  many  into  close  connection 
with  the  Church  and  the  Sunday-school,  speedil}^  drew  forth 
the  working  power  of  Christian  love  in  the  new  agencies  which 
for  the  past  few  years  have  been  such  a  glory  to  the  Church : 
"  The  Cottage  Prayermeeting,"  "  The  Sewing-School "  of  the 
Church,  "The  Societies  of  Christian  Endeavor,"  and  many 
other  organizations  for  special  forms  of  Christian  work.  The 
revival  of  1875-1876  helped  this  Church  to  recognize  the 
fact  that  as  all  men  are  equal  before  God,  so  in  His  Church 
there  ought  to  be  no  respect  of  persons.  In  the  Church  the 
qualities  of  goodness  and  saintliness  alone  are  to  be  recog- 
nized as  honorable  and  distinguished.  There  is  nothing  to 
be  more  dreaded  than  the  separation  of  classes  in  the  house 


264  Centennial  Memorial. 

of  God,  or  the  separation  of  different  houses  of  God  to  differ- 
ent classes. 

The  rich,  the  intelligent,  the  professional  classes,  who  go 
to  worship  where  only  those  of  their  order  go,  are  doing 
their  best  to  lower  real  and  true  religion  in  the  eyes  of  the 
poor,  the  ignorant,  and  the  manual  laboring  people,  and  so 
provoke  social  revolutions  and  hatreds.  The  salt  that  will 
preserve  society  is  sympathy  and  communion  between  all 
classes  in  the  highest  and  most  serious  of  all  interests,  the 
religious  and  everlasting.  The  Church  must  honor,  not 
wealth  or  rank  or  social  standing,  but  the  soul  and  its  spirit- 
ual fitness  to  serve  God.  Let  master  and  workmen,  the 
rich  and  the  poor,  come  together  in  Christ  before  God,  and 
they  will  learn  that  mutual  respect  and  regard  will  do 
more  for  order  and  peace  in  the  State  than  all  legislation. 
This  Church  and  the  other  Presbyterian  Churches  of  the 
city,  by  drawing  in  all  classes  to  Church  fellowship,  are  doing 
a  good  work  for  the  city  of  which  it  is  likely  they  have  taken 
no  note. 

We  had  sad  losses  in  our  noble  band  of  leaders  from  the 
Session  of  the  Church,  the  brothers,  Fleming,  the  elder  of 
whom,  R.  Jackson  Fleming,  had  for  years  led  the  service  of 
song,  and  been  a  most  faithful  and  consecrated  worker  in  a 
mission  among  the  colored  people  of  the  city  that  was 
transformed  into  the  Elder  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
the  younger  Dr.  James  Fleming,  also  for  years  a  member  of 
the  choir,  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school  and  at  all  times  a 
Christian  whose  gentleness  and  consistency  of  character 
won  for  him  universal  esteem.  The  brothers,  John  A.  and 
James  W.  Weir,  whose  names  have  already  been  mentioned 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     265 

and  will  always  hold  a  loved  and  honorable  place  in  the 
records  of  the  Church  ;  the  guileless,  sterling  and  true- 
hearted  Mordecai  McKinney,  poor  in  this  world's  goods,  but 
rich  in  faith,  modest  as  a  little  child,  but  brave  in  doing 
right  as  any  martyr  in  all  the  Christian  ages. 

Memory  recalls  a  multitude  of  names  that  are  intimately 
associated  with  the  history  of  the  congregation.  The  venerable 
Joseph  Wallace,  for  many  years  a  trustee  and  a  treasurer  of 
the  congregation,  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  purest  life  ; 
John  H.  Briggs,  among  the  foremost  lawyers  at  the  Bar, 
prominent  in  municipal  affairs,  for  twenty-seven  years  a 
trustee  of  the  congregation  and  for  twent3^-nine  j^ears  a 
member  of  the  Church,  an  able  counsellor,  a  patriotic  citizen 
and  a  generous  friend  ;  Hon.  David  Fleming,  lawyer  and 
Senator,  a  trustee  for  many  years,  a  member  of  the  Church 
for  over  two  score  years,  and  a  faithful  and  intelligent 
teacher  in  the  Sunday-school  for  nearly,  if  not  quite,  a  half 
century ;  Dr.  Edward  L.  Orth,  the  gentle,  sympathetic  and 
skillful  physician  in  so  many  of  our  homes,  who  filled  our 
hearts  with  grief  by  his  sudden  death  at  the  opening  of  the 
war ;  the  hale  and  strong  yet  tender  Dr.  W.  W.  Rutherford, 
who  for  forty  years  practiced  his  profession  and  won  and 
held  the  foremost  place  in  it ;  and,  leaving  unnamed  many 
others  towards  whom  so  many  of  our  hearts  turn,  yet  two 
more  who  have  passed  from  our  midst  since  the  close  of  the 
fourth  pastorate  must  be  mentioned,  his  Honor,  Judge  John 
J.  Pearson,  closing  a  long  and  honorable  career  at  the  age  of 
eighty -eight  years,  with  a  reputation  for  signal  fidelity  to  his 
high  trusts,  and  a  character  beyond  reproach,  and  Henry 
Gilbert  whose  life  from  boyhood  was  closely  associated  with 


266  Centennial  MemoHal. 

this  Church,  who  delighted  to  be  its  servant,  and  who  pos- 
sessed in  a  remarkable  degree  the  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart  that  inspire  esteem  and  trust  and  love. 

The  additions  made  to  the  Ruling  Eldership  during  the 
years  of  Dr.  Robinson's  sole  pastorate  were,  in  1868:  Dr. 
James  Fleming,  William  S.  Shaffer  and  Walter  F.  Faline- 
stock,  Jr.;  on  April  15,  1877:  James  F.  Purvis,  Dr.  Jacob  A. 
Miller,  Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell  and  Gilbert  M.  McCauley. 
Messrs.  Purvis  and  Shaffer  are  serving  other  Churches  in  the 
same  office,  the  former  in  Kansas,  and  the  latter  in  the 
Olivet  Church,  of  this  city.  Messrs.  McCarrell,  McCauley 
and  Miller  are  still  members  of  the  Church  Session,  and  to 
them  were  added,  on  March  20,  1887,  Messrs.  John  C. 
Harvey  and  J.  Henry  Spicer.  The  complete  roll  of  the 
Session  during  the  hundred  years  of  histor}''  now  ended 
embraces  thirty-five  names,  five  Pastors  and  thirty  Ruling 
Elders.  Among  those  elders  may  be  found  many  who  can- 
not be  surpassed  in  the  ability  and  the  faithfulness  with 
which  they  served  the  Church. 

During  the  closing  years  of  the  fourth  pastorate.  Market 
Square  and  Pine  Street  Churches  grew  in  power  and  num- 
bers in  Christian  zeal,  in  organized  and  intelligent  work, 
and  new  Churches  were  added  to  the  forces  of  Presbyterian- 
ism  in  the  city.  The  two  older  Churches  have  made 
splendid  enlargements  to  their  church  buildings  for  Sun- 
day-school operations,  and  have  organized  mission  enter- 
prises in  needy  parts  of  the  city.  These  two  Churches  stand 
among  the  most  prominent  Churches  in  the  denomination 
for  their  successful  work  among  the  young.  Benevolent 
schemes  in  the  city  for  the  sick,  for  the  poor,  for  the  aged 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thor)ias  H.  Robinson.     267 

and  for  orphans  have  not  appealed  in  vain  to  this  Church 
for  money,  for  labor  and  for  counsel  in  their  management. 
Noblest  of  all  during  these  years,  aside  from  that  spiritual 
grace  which  nourished  Christian  lives  and  added  the  saved 
to  the  communion  of  believers,  was  the  marvelous  develop- 
ment of  Christian  activity  and  power  among  the  women  of 
the  Church.  Their  names  are  conspicuous  in  the  earliest 
records  of  the  congregation.  The  history  of  their  labors 
and  sacrifices  from  the  last  century  to  this  hour,  and  espec- 
ially for  the  last  twenty-five  years,  needs  volumes  for  its 
record  and  many  hours  for  a  fitting  eulogy.  It  is  with 
grief,  mingled  with  most  delightful  memories,  that  only 
this  passing  allusion  can  be  made  to  the  quiet,  but  heroic, 
lives  of  the  Christian  women  of  this  Church. 

In  1884  another  change  took  place  in  the  pastorate  of  the 
church.  Its  pastor  received  a  call  from  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary  at  Allegheny,  from  which  he  had 
graduated  thirty  j^ears  before,  to  the  Re-Union  Professorship 
of  Sacred  Rhetoric,  Church  Government  and  Pastoral 
Theology.  After  a  prayerful  consideration  of  the  matter 
for  several  months,  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was 
his  duty  to  accept  the  call,  and  so  announced  to  the  Church. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  held  on  April 
9,  1884,  the  pastoral  relationship  between  him  and  this 
Church  was  dissolved,  and  Dr.  Robinson  was  appointed  to 
declare  the  pulpit  vacant  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  June. 
This  Church  was  represented  at  that  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery  by  Messrs.  S.  J.  M.  McCarrell,  Charles  L. 
Bailey,  M.  W.  McAlarney  and  William  S.  Shaffer,  who 
presented  a  strong  protest  from  the  congregation  against 


268  Centennial  Memorial. 

the  severance  of  the  bonds  between  it  and  the  pastor.  He 
continued  'to  supply  the  pulpit  until  the  last  Sabbath  in 
June,  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  his  first  sermon  to  the 
congregation  in  1854. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  held  October  6,  1884, 
the  Rev.  George  Black  Stewart  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  was  unan- 
imously elected  to  fill  the  vacant  pastorate.  Mr.  Stewart  is 
a  graduate  of  Princeton  College  and  pursued  his  theological 
studies  at  both  McCormick  and  Auburn  Theological 
Seminaries  and  for  five  years  was  pastor  of  the  Calvary 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.  The  call  was 
accepted  by  him  and  on  January  2,  1885,  he  was  installed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  as  the  fifth  in  the  line  of 
pastors,  during  a  hundred  years  in  the  history  of  this 
Church.  Nine  years  have  now  passed  since  this  relationship 
was  established.  They  have  been  years  of  unexampled 
activity  and  growth,  surpassing  all  former  years.  All 
departments  of  church  work  have  been  invigorated,  and 
new  agencies  have  been  created.  The  spirit  of  consecrated 
love  and  work  has  fallen  upon  the  Church.  Though  this 
Church  has  reached  the  maturity  of  an  hundred  years  its 
*'eye  is  not  dim  nor  is  its  natural  force  abated."  There  are 
no  wrinkles  of  age  upon  it  nor  any  signals  of  weariness. 
Its  courts  are  thronged  upon  the  Sabbath  with  worshipers, 
and  its  schools  are  filled  with  the  students  of  divine  things. 
Its  places  of  weekly  prayer  are  the  resort  of  Christ's  dis- 
ciples. There  is  no  going  backward,  but  onward  rather  to 
meet  the  greater  light  and  the  larger  responsibilities  of  the 
twentieth  century.  There  is  no  defection  in  its  teachings. 
Its  pulpit  is  true  to  the  word  of  God  and  to  the  immemorial 


George  Black  Stewart. 

1885. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     269 

faith  of  Christ's  Church.  It  utters  no  uncertain  and  doubtful 
sound.  Its  tireless,  broad-minded  and  consecrated  occupant 
may  be  trusted  to  lead  into  no  path  that  is  not  illumined 
by  the  light  that  falls  from  the  Holy  Scriptures  and 
marked  by  the  footprints  of  good  men,  and  of  the  great 
Captain  of  our  salvation.  The  Ruling  Elders  who  are 
associated  with  him  in  the  spiritual  guidance  of  the  Church, 
have  been  wisely  selected  and  have  approved  themselves  as 
worth}'  successors  of  the  noble  men  who  preceded  them. 
During  the  present  pastorate  the  Church  has  most  wisely 
renewed  the  office  oi  the  Deacon  vacant  in  the  Church 
since  the  death  of  a  good  old  man  of  the  earlier  days, 
Ebenezer  Ward  in  1864.  He  died  at  an  advanced  age  and 
for  many  years  had  laid  aside  the  duties  of  the  office.  May 
the  Deacons  of  this  Church  serve  well  and  so  "gain  to  them- 
selves a  good  standing  and  great  boldness  in  the  faith 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus." 

By  reason  of  the  enlarged  labors  of  the  pastorate  of  the 
Church  and  the  growth  of  its  mission  enterprise  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  city  the  employment  of  an  assistant  to  the  pastor 
became  a  necessity.  During  the  summer  months  of  1889 
Mr.  David  M.  Skilling,  a  member  of  the  Senior  class  of 
Western  Theological  Seminary,  entered  upon  these  duties 
and  so  securely  won  the  regard  of  the  Church  that  upon  his 
graduation  in  May,  1890,  he  was  recalled  to  the  work  and 
has  remained  until  this  day.  He  has  been  fully  ordained 
to  the  ministry.  The  mission  has  grown  under  his  fostering 
care  in  numbers  and  spiritual  power.  The  congregation 
and  the  Sunday-school  are  already  the  strong  foundation 
for  an  active  and  successful  Church.     Through  the  large 


270  Centennial  Memorial. 

generosity  of  members  of  this  Church  the  mission  has  been 
provided  with  a  stone  chapel  of  elegant  architecture  and 
all  the  needed  furniture  of  a  house  of  worship.  Mr.  Skil- 
ling  has  brought  to  his  field  the  scholarship  and  training 
of  many  years  of  college  and  seminary  study  and  the  con- 
secration of  a  heart  and  life  wholly  devoted  to  the  service 
of  Christ. 

I  have  left  unsaid  many  of  the  things  I  most  greatly  de- 
sired to  say.  There  are  names  unspoken  in  the  heart  that 
I  wished  to  utter  with  words  of  veneration  and  praise. 
What  a  record  of  noble  and  saintly  lives  might  be  gathered 
from  this  centur}^  of  years.  What  toils  and  strong  purposes 
and  love  have  gone  into  the  uplifting  of  this  Church  of 
God  here.  What  a  history  of  prayers,  of  teaching  and 
preaching,  of  glad  sacrifices  for  God  and  for  man,  of  souls 
born  into  the  life  that  is  everlasting,  of  Christian  graces 
growing  into  splendid  maturity,  of  a  Christian  faith  that 
amid  the  decays  of  nature  and  in  the  chamber  of  death 
was  radiant  with  the  certainties  of  that  world  that  is  im- 
mortal. We  have  seen  them  as  they  reached  the  brink  of 
the  "  deep  river,"  and  from  their  faces  have  caught  what 
seemed  like  a  "reflection  of  the  sunbeams  upon  the  cit}^ 
that  is  pure  gold." 

One  hundred  years !  They  take  us  back  to  a  time  that 
Bushnell  has  called  "  the  Age  of  Homespun."  The  fathers 
and  mothers  who  laid  the  foundations  here  were  simpl}'' 
worthy  men  and  women.  They  were  sensible,  wise-headed, 
upright  men  and  women  of  plain  and  godly  virtues.  They 
never  thought  of  being  famous  or  historic.  But  from  the 
rare  simplicity  and  the  homely  virtues  of  that  age  we  draw 


David  Miller  Skilling. 

PASTOR'S  Assistant,  1891. 


Historical  Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.     271 

our  royal  lineage.  Our  inheritance  has  come  from  their 
sturdiness  in  well-doing  and  their  reverent  love  of  the 
things  that  are  true  and  good.  The  greatest  thoughts  that 
brewed  in  their  minds  were  thoughts  of  religion  and  of 
God.  Little  deemed  they  that  the  hundred  years  through 
which  their  successors  and  heirs  have  lived  would  form  the 
most  remarkable  century  in  human  history. 

The  "  Grand  Old  Man,"  of  England,  who  is  about  to  lay 
down  the  work  of  his  wonderful  life,  has  said,  that  if  he 
had  been  given  his  choice  in  what  period  of  the  world  to 
live,  he  would  have  chosen  the    Nineteenth    Century.     It 
has  been  the  age  of  invention  and  of  discovery,  the  age  of 
political  change,  of  advancing  science  and  art,  of  human 
liberty  and  of  religious  progress.     What  we  possess  to-day 
of  privilege  and  power,  of  blessing  and  of  hope,  is  but  an 
heirloom.     We  have  entered  into  the  labors  of  our  fathers. 
This  Century  Plant  did  not  spring  up  in  a  night.     The  past 
was   at    its  planting  and  many  years   have  waited  on  its 
growth.     The  best  spirits  of   three  generations  have  been 
our  benefactors.     By  the  patience  and  courage,  by  the  self- 
denials  and  the  prayers  of  the  hundreds  of  men  and  women 
who  here  loved  their  fellow-men,  and  served  their  God,  this 
Church   now  stands  on  its  height  of  attainment.      Let  us 
honor  those  who  made  us  what  we  are.     Let  us  bow  our 
heads  in  gratefulness  to  the  fathers  and  mothers  who  left 
us,  not  hoarded  saving  of  perishing  gold,  but  the  memory 
and  the  power  of  their  Christian  lives.     Some  of  them  like 
the  divinely-gifted  James  W.  Weir  stand  forth  with  a  bril- 
liance all  their  own  and  unrivalled,  but  love  weaves  its  gar- 
land's for  hundreds  of  others  who  lived  for  us  and  left  us 


272  Centennial  Memorial. 

their  precious  inheritance.  Into  the  sympathy  and  goodly 
fellowship  of  these  men  and  women  who  walked  with  the 
Son  of  God  let  us  hasten  to  enter  and  there  abide.  By  the 
goodness  of  our  lives  and  by  the  fulness  of  our  devotion  to 
truth  and  to  Christ,  let  us  see  to  it,  that  by  the  close  of  the 
twentieth  century,  freedom  and  religion  are  high  advanced 
towards  the  millenium. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Dr.  Robinson's  address,  Dr.  Stewart 
announced  Luther's  Battle  Hymn  of  the  Reformation. 

Our  God  stands  fii-m,  a  rock  and  tow'r, 

A  shield  when  danger  presses ; 
A  ready  help  in  ev'ry  hour 

When  doubt  or  pain  distresses  ; 
For  our  malignant  foe 

Unswerving  aims  his  blow  ; 
His  fearful  arms  the  while, 

Dark  pow'r  and  darker  guile ; 
His  hidden  craft  is  matchless. 

Our  strength  is  weakness  in  the  fight, 

Our  courage  soon  defection ; 
But  comes  a  Warrior  clad  in  might, 

A  Prince  of  God's  election ; 
Who  is  this  wondrous  Chief 

That  brings  this  glad  relief  ? 
The  field  of  battle  boasts, 

Christ  Jesus,  Lord  of  hosts. 
Still  conq'ring  and  to  conquer. 

Then,  Lord  !  arise ;  lift  up  thine  arm, 

With  mighty  succor  stay  us ; 
Oh,  turn  aside  the  deadly  harm 

When  Satan  would  betray  us. 


Historical  Evening.  273 

That  rescued  by  thy  hand, 

In  triumph  we  may  stand, 
And  round  thy  footstool  crowd 

In  joy  to  sing  aloud 
High  praise  to  our  Redeemer. 

As  the  audience  joined  heartily  with  the  choir  in  singing 
the  stately  measures  of  Ein.  feste  Burg,  it  seemed  a  most 
fitting  culmination  of  the  praise  to  the  great  Head  of  the 
Church  for  his  kind  providence  and  infinite  grace  toward 
this  people.  Rev.  David  M.  Skilling  led  the  congregation 
in  repeating  the  Lord's  Prayer.  The  Benediction  was  pro- 
nounced by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Robinson,  and  the  service  con- 
cluded with  the  Chorus  in  E  Flat  composed  by  Guilmant. 


FEIDAY  E VEILING. 

February  the  16th,  1894,,  at  7.30  o'clock. 


Social  Reception, 

Amiel  in  his  Journal  Intime  makes  some  philosophical 
observations  concerning  social  amenities.  He  looks  upon 
social  gatherings  as  occasions  when  "intellect  and  taste  hold 
festival,  and  the  associations  of  reality  are  exchanged  for 
the  associations  of  the  imagination,"  and  he  adds  :  "Paradox 
or  no,  I  believe  that  these  fugitive  attempts  to  reconstruct 
a  dream  whose  only  end  is  beauty,  represent  confused  rem- 
iniscences of  an  age  of  gold  haunting  the  human  heart, 
or  rather  aspirations  towards  a  harmony  of  things  which 
everyday  reality  denies  to  us,  and  of  which  art  alone  gives 
us  a  glimpse."  It  must  have  been  unconscious  obedience 
to  some  such  law  as  this  which  led  the  committee  to  plan 
the  closing  feature  of  Centennial  Week.  It  was  certainly  a 
most  happy  thought  which  devised  the  social  reception  of 
Friday  night.  And  it  was  a  happy  thought  most  admirably 
executed.  The  Reception  Committee  had  a  difficult  task  to 
perform.  The  problems  confronting  it  were  complex  and 
full  of  unknown  factors.  Necessarily  many  of  their  arrange- 
ments were  dependent  upon  the  probable  number  of  guests 
they  would  have  to  provide  for,  yet  these  arrangements  had 
to  be  completed  before  this  could  possibly  be  known.  It 
is  no  small  praise  when  we  say  that  their  arrangements 
were  perfect  and  admirably  adapted  to  the  circumstances, 
that  they  secured  to  those  present  a  most  enjoyable  evening. 


276  Centennial  Memorial. 

and  concluded  the  Centennial  observances  with  a  brilliant 
success.  This  committee  with  Mrs.  Gilbert  M.  McGauley  as 
chairman  arranged  the  Sunday-school  rooms  in  a  tasteful  and 
attractive  manner,  and  provided  ample  refreshments  for  the 
tw^elve  hundred  to  fifteen  hundred  guests.  The  Committee 
of  Ushers  with  Mr.  Peter  K.  Sprenkel  as  chairman  ably  as- 
sisted the  Reception  Committee  in  contributing  to  the  com- 
fort of  the  large  company.  This  committee  provided  a  cloak- 
room for  the  checking  of  hats  and  outer  garments,  which 
proved  to  be  a  great  convenience.  In  addition  to  these  two 
committees  valuable  help  was  rendered  by  the  young  people 
in  distributing  refreshments  and  in  other  ways.  Among 
those  who  thus  assisted  were  Misses  Martha  Worden  McAlar- 
ney,  Louisa  A.  Hickok,  Anna  Orth,  Caroline  Moffitt,  Roberta 
Orth,  Mary  Hamilton,  Nannie  Orr,  Caroline  Bigler,  Mary 
Fleming,  Helen  Boyd,  Eva  Vandling,  Margaret  Hamilton, 
Marion  Weiss;  Messrs.  Ira  Bishop,  George  Ridgway,  Horace 
Segelbaum,  John  P.  Kelker,  George  Martin,  Charles  Hickok; 
Masters  Harris  Stewart,  John  Hart  McAlarney,  George 
Stewart. 

The  night  was  clear  and  cold  wdth  bright  stars  above  and 
the  creaking  snow  beneath.  The  people  early  began  to 
gather  and  evidently  came  prepared  for  a  happy  time,  and 
they  had  it.  The  receiving  party  stood  in  the  Intermediate 
Sunday-school  room,  and  consisted  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart, 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson,  Mr.  Skilling,  and  the  Invitation 
Committee,  consisting  of  Charles  L.  Bailey,  David  Fleming, 
Jr.,  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Briggs,  Mrs.  David  Fleming,  Alexander 
Roberts,  John  H.  Weiss,  Dr.  Jacob  A.  Miller,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Doll,  Mrs.  Jacob  S.  Haldeman,  Miss  Sibyl  M.  Weir,  Samuel 


Social  Reception.  277 

D.  Ingram,  George  W.  Boyd,  Lyman  D.  Gilbert.  The  hun- 
dreds of  guests  as  they  arrived  were  cordially  received  and 
made  to  feel  at  home.  There  was  no  lack  of  good  fellow- 
ship. Because  of  the  large  number  present  the  committees 
early  began  to  serve  the  refreshments,  and  were  kept  busy 
throughout  the  whole  evening. 

About  eight  o'clock  the  impromptu  musical  programme 
began  in  the  lecture-room.  Messrs.  Henry  A.  Kelker,  Jr., 
J.  F.  Hutchinson,  H.  L.  Vance,  Charles  F.  Etter  and  Frank 
S.  Morrow,  members  of  the  Harrisburg  Banjo  Club,  played 
with  spirit  and  precision  two  numbers.  Mrs.  Frank  R. 
Schell  and  Mrs.  David  Fleming,  Jr.,  gave  as  a  piano  duet, 
the  overture  to  "  Rienzi,"  by  Wagner,  in  which  their  fine 
musical  taste  and  skill  were  made  evident.  The  voices  of 
Messrs.  George  R.  Fleming,  Edward  Z.  Gross,  William  G. 
Underwood,  and  Lucius  S.  Bigelow,  the  Mendelssohn  Quar- 
tette, blended  perfectly  in  the  ballads,  so  dear  to  the  people's 
heart,  "  The  Miller  of  Dee,"  "  Ben  Bolt,"  "  Annie  Laurie," 
"  Blue  Bells  of  Scotland."  The  surging  throng  which 
filled  the  social  rooms  made  it  difficult  for  hearing  this 
excellent  music. 

At  the  same  time,  in  the  auditorium,  a  large  company 
gathered  to  listen  to  the  addresses  given  by  some  of  the 
guests  of  the  evening. 

After  Miss  Reba  Bunton  and  Mr.  George  R.  Fleming  had 
delighted  the  audience  with  the  duet,  "They  Shall  Hunger 
No  More,"  in  Gaul's  cantata,  "The  Holy  City,"  and  Mr. 
Fleming  had  increased  the  delight  by  a  solo,  Coenen's 
"  Come  Unto  Me,"  Mr.  Stewart,  the  Minister  of  the  Church, 
said :  This  is  a  flexible  audience,  and  so  is  everything  else 


278  Centennial  Memorial. 

to-night.  There  is  nothing  stiff  or  formal  about  this  occa- 
sion. This  is  an  evening  of  freedom  and  spontaneous  good 
fellowship.  It  gives  me  very  great  pleasure  to  introduce 
the  presiding  officer  of  the  evening,  the  Honorable  John 
B.  McPherson  of  Harrisburg,  late  of  Lebanon. 

The  President.  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  Two  or  three 
of  us  were  talking  this  afternoon  as  we  were  coming  down 
the  Bank  and  were  wondering  why  it  was  that  when 
Americans  get  together — and  I  suppose  it  is  equally  true 
of  all  English  speaking-people — they  always  want  two 
things;  one  is  speech-making,  and  singularly  enough  the 
other  is  brevity  in  the  speeches.  The  two  do  not  always 
go  together;  but  the  effort  this  evening  is  to  have  them 
both;  you  will  have  several  speeches,  and  I  think  you 
will  have  them  short. 

I  will  not  refer  to  the  reasons  which  make  it  most  gratify- 
ing for  me  to  be  here  on  this  occasion,  but  there  "is  one 
suggestion  which  perhaps  may  touch  others  in  the  audience 
as  well  as  myself.  It  is  certainly  most  inspiriting  to  one 
who  has  anything  to  do  with  a  small  church,  with  a  church 
that  is  struggling  to  live  and  is  in  the  beginning  of  things, 
to  come  and  see  what  is  the  result  here  of  all  these  years 
of  effort,  and  to  reflect  that  after  all  somebody  must  go 
through  the  early  stages  of  despondency,  and  that  it  may 
as  well  fall  to  your  lot  or  to  mine  as  to  the  lot  of  others.  I 
am  sure  for  such  a  person  it  will  be  easy  this  evening  to 
get  some  inspiration  and  encouragement. 

It  is  probabl}^  quite  clear  by  this  time  of  the  week  that 
the  English  Presbyterian  Church  of  Harrisburg  is  cele- 
brating its  Centennial,  but  I  hasten  to  add — and  I  believe 


Remarks  by  Dr.  William  C.  CattelL  279 

I  am  expressing  your  sentiments  as  well  as  my  own — that 
it  has  never  seemed  to  me  as  if  our  brethren  of  the  Pine 
Street  Church  were  really  a  separate  Church.  They  shared 
our  common  worship  for  sixty-five  years:  there  have  been, 
and  there  are,  so  many  ties  between  us,  and  those  ties  have 
been  so  intimate  and  so  continuous  during  the  last  thirty- 
five  years,  that  it  never  has  seemed  as  if  the  churches  were 
separate,  but  rather  as  if  they  were  parts  of  the  same  con- 
gregation worshiping  in  diff'erent  buildings.  In  that  spirit 
I  would  like  to  present  to  you  a  gentleman  whose  name 
and  face  are  not  only  familiar  to  you  all,  but  are  known 
and  honored  wherever  the  Presbyterian  faith  is  honored 
throughout  the  land ;  I  would  like  to  call  upon  him  as  one 
who  was  formerly  an  associate  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Harrisburg — Dr.  Cattell. 

Remarks  by  Dr.  William  C.  Cattell. 

I  have  taken  a  couple  of  days  out  of  a  very  busy  life,  and 
have  traveled  many  miles  that  I  might  be  present  at  this 
Presbyterian  reunion.  For  here  in  Harrisburg  the  happiest 
years  of  my  life  were  spent.  I  have  indeed  happy  memor- 
ies of  other  places  where  I  have  lived,  especially  of  Easton, 
where,  among  a  refined  and  cultured  people,  I  spent  nearly 
thirty  years,  engaged  in  a  work  that  awakened  my  highest 
enthusiasm,  and  that  brought  me  into  intimate  relations 
with  beloved  colleagues  in  the  Faculty  and  with  the  young 
and  joyous  life  of  college  boys.  Yet,  I  say  frankly  to  you 
here,  as  I  say  everywhere,  that  my  heart  is  in  Harrisburg 
It  was  only  four  brief  years  that  I  lived  here,  but  those  were 
years  in  which  I  occupied  a  position  which  I  believe  to  be 


280  Centennial  Memorial. 

the  most  blessed  and  delightful  that  can  fall  to  the  lot  of 
man.  I  was  the  Pastor  of  a  kind,  loving,  united  people.  So 
long  as  I  live  shall  I  cherish  in  my  heart  of  hearts  the 
memory  of  their  love  and  loyalty  which  made  my  sacred 
work  among  them  a  supreme  joy.  I  can  say  now,  after  the 
lapse  of  thirty  years,  what  I  said  in  my  last  words  to  them 
from  the  pulpit  as  I  turned  away  from  my  happy  home 
here  to  resume  my  college  work  at  Easton:  "I  thank  my 
God  upon  every  remembrance  of  youJ'  That  was  the  text,  as 
some  of  you  may  recall,  from  which  I  preached  my 
farewell  sermon. 

But  the  memories  which  have  so  endeared  Harrisburg  to 
me  are  not  exclusively  those  connected  with  the  people  of 
my  old  pastoral  charge.  I  had  not  lived  here  long  without 
finding  that  in  this  "mother  church,"  at  whose  invitation 
we  are  here  to-night,  were  some  of  the  most  lovable  people 
that  ever  lived. 

Let  me  remind  you  that  Harrisburg,  in  1860,  was  only  a 
large  town,  containing  not  much  over  fifteen  thousand 
inhabitants.  What  were  then  open  fields  are  now  streets 
of  closely-built  houses.  The  palatial  residences,  everywhere 
to  be  seen  now,  were  then  unknown.  The  life  here,  a  gen- 
eration ago,  was  plainer  and  simpler  than  it  can  be  in  the 
great  and  busy  city  to  which  Harrisburg  has  now  grown. 
People  got  to  know  each  other  easily.  Neighbor  was 
another  name  for  friend,  and  the  "  neighborhood "  was 
widely  extended.  It  was,  therefore,  not  long  before  the 
young  Pastor  of  the  Pine  Street  Church  found  that  there 
were  other  good  people  here  besides  those  of  his  own  fold, 
although  they,  first  and  last  and  always,  were  the  nearest  to 


Remarks  by  Dr.  William  C.  Cattell.  281 

his  heart.  Naturally,  he  found  these  good  people,  first  of  all^ 
and  the  most  blessed  of  them  all,  in  the  old  "mother 
church,"  and  the  friendships  formed  among  them  I  have 
sacredly  cherished  all  these  years. 

And  so  I  rejoice  to  be  here  to-night.  Many,  indeed,  of 
those  I  loved  in  this  Church,  and  in  my  old  pastoral  charge 
have  gone  to  the  better  land.  Yet  many  remain.  And  it 
has  been  a  great  joy  to  me,  as  I  passed  through  these 
crowded  rooms,  to  take  one  and  another  by  the  hand — the 
two  congregations  so  intermingled  that  those  from  one  could 
hardly  be  distinguished  from  those  of  the  other.  Their 
kind  greeting  will  be  a  precious  memory  to  me  for  the  rest 
of  my  life. 

Yonder  is  my  dear  and  honored  brother.  Dr.  Robinson, 
wdio,  as  Pastor  of  this  Church,  so  cordially  welcomed  me  to 
Harrisburg  nearly  thirty-five  years  ago.  We  were  both 
young  men  then.  In  his  presence  I  should  hardly  dare  to 
say  about  him  all  that  is  in  my  heart.  But  this  I  dare  say 
While  he  has  been  called  to  a  high  position  as  a  professor 
in  one  of  our  oldest  theological  seminaries,  and  the  whole 
Presbyterian  Church  holds  him  in  deserved  honor,  his  old 
people  here,  and  all  of  us  who  knew  him,  claim  him  to  be 
in  a  special  sense  "  our  Doctor  Robinson."  Our  respect  for 
him  and  our  personal  love  strengthen  as  the  years  go  by. 

And  what  shall  I  say  of  Dr.  DeWitt,  the  venerable  senior 
Pastor  of  this  Church  when  I  came  to  Harrisburg?  I  looked 
up  to  him  with  a  reverence  I  have  felt  for  few  men.  Of  all 
those  articles  of  historic  interest  collected  in  the  adjoining 
room  well  worthy  of  days  of  careful  study,  nothing  has  so 
attracted  me  as  the  j^ortrait  of  this  venerable  man.     I  stood 


282  Centennial  Memorial. 

long  before  it  to-day,  gazing  upon  those  benign  and  well- 
remembered  features,  and  recalling  his  rare  and  beautiful 
old  age  as  he  went  in  and  out  among  the  people  whom  he 
had  so  lovingly  and  so  faithfully  and  so  ably  served  for 
nearly  half  a  century.  Even  in  the  declining  years  of  his 
life  he  waa  a  preacher  of  rare  power.  I  recall  a  sermon  I 
heard  him  jDreach  shortly  after  I  came  to  Harrisburg.  A 
large  tent  was  pitched  upon  the  Capitol  grounds  in  which 
meetings  were  held  after  the  manner  of  the  evangelistic 
services  now  so  common.  The  patriarch  took  for  his  text, 
"  Though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet  they  shall  be  white  as 
snow ;  though  they  be  red  like  crimson  they  shall  be  as 
wool."  Never  shall  I  forget  the  deep  impression  made  upon 
the  great  assembl}'  as  the  silver-haired  man,  with  a  voice 
trembling  with  emotion,  and  in  language  of  classic  purity 
characteristic  of  all  his  sermons,  pleaded  with  his  hearers  to 
accept  God's  mercy  so  fully  and  freely  offered  in  the  gospel. 
All  around  me  were  men  in  tears ! 

There  comes  to  me  a  pleasant  memory  connecting  Dr. 
DeWitt  with  our  own  services  in  the  new  church  dedicated 
in  1860.  Dr.  Gurley,  of  Washington  City,  preached  in  the 
morning,  and  Dr.  Burt,  of  Baltimore,  in  the  evening,  when 
this  church  was  closed  and  both  congregations  met  together 
and  sent  their  prayers  and  sacred  songs  heavenward  from 
the  same  altar.  The  next  day  I  called  upon  Dr.  DeWitt 
and  invited  him  to  preach  on  the  following  Sunday  morn- 
ing. He  at  once,  and  with  his  usual  courtesy,  accepted  the 
invitation.  But  I  saw  he  was  under  the  impression  that  I 
had  invited  him  as  "  a  supply  "  in  view  of  my  absence  from 


Bemarks  by  Dr.  William  C.  Cattell.  283 

home  that  da}^  and  I  said  to  him :  "  No,  Dr.  DeWitt,  I 
could  not  be  away  from  my  people  when  the  very  first 
sermon  is  preached  to  them  in  the  regular  ministration  of 
the  gospel  after  the  exceptional  exercises  of  the  dedication. 
I  shall  be  in  the  pulpit  with  you.  But  it  is  more  fitting 
that  this  first  sermon  shall  be  preached  by  you  than  by  the 
Pastor  of  the  Church.  You  are  the  honored  father  of  us  all." 
And  I  shall  never  forget  the  pleased  look  with  which  the 
patriarch  recognized  that  the  invitation  to  him  was  intended, 
not  to  fill  a  vacancy  occasioned  by  my  absence,  but  to  em- 
phasize the  high  appreciation  in  which  he  was  held  by 
the  community  in  which  his  whole  ministerial  life  had 
been  spent. 

I  should  like  to  recall  other  pleasant  memories  I  have  of 
Dr.  DeWitt  and  of  the  members  of  this  Church  whom  I 
knew  and  loved  in  those  far  off"  days,  especially  among  the 
elders ;  and  I  should  not  hesitate  to  name  first  of  all  that 
eminent  man  of  God,  Mr.  James  W.  Weir.  But  there  are 
other  speakers  to  follow,  and  the  reminiscences  that  crowd 
upon  me  would  detain  you  too  long. 

But  there  comes  to  me  a  sad  memory  to  which  I  must 
briefly  refer — the  civil  war,  which,  during  the  last  three 
years  of  my  pastorate,  transformed  our  hitherto  quiet  and 
peaceful  town  into  one  vast  camp  of  soldiers.  Their  tents 
were  pitched  not  only  in  the  open  fields  around  us,  but  in 
the  public  grounds  and  even  in  the  streets.  Preaching  by 
their  camp  fires  and  ministering  in  the  great  hospitals  soon 
established  for  the  sick  and  wounded,  all  the  pastors  here 
found  new  and  most  sacred  duties  added  to  the  work  among 


284  Centennial  Memorial. 

their  own  people.  Our  congregations  upon  the  Sabbath  day 
were  at  times  ahnost  broken  up  with  the  excitement  and 
stir  and  confusion  that  everywhere  prevailed.  On  that 
Sunday — I  remember  it  well — when  the  skirmish  occurred 
at  Oyster's  Point,  but  three  or  four  miles  from  the  city  and 
we  could  plainly  hear  the  booming  of  the  cannon,  the  con- 
gregation of  the  Pine  Street  Church  numbered  exactly 
twelve !  But  in  those  dark  days  pastors  and  people  in  all 
the  churches  seemed  to  be  drawn  nearer  to  each  other  as 
all  drew  nearer  to  the  throne  to  wdiich  their  petitions  were 
sent  for  that  help  of  which  we  all  stood  in  such  need.  The 
darkness  around  us  deepened  as  the  months  slowly  passed 
away.  In  fact,  in  the  second  invasion  of  Pennsylvania  by 
the  confederates  under  General  Lee,  Harrisburg  became  a 
beleaguered  city.  Intrenchments  for  its  defense  were  thrown 
up  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river — I  myself  worked  upon 
them  with  pick  and  shovel !  All  the  State  archives  Were 
hurriedly  removed  for  safety  ;  women  and  children  fled 
from  their  homes.  The  sentinels  were  still  keeping  watch 
and  guard  upon  those  outworks  for  the  defense  of  the  city 
when  I  took  leave  of  this  dear  place  in  the  fall  of  1863 — 
though  in  my  farewell  words  from  the  pulpit  to  my  beloved 
people,  I  could  even  then  point  them  to  the  star  of  hope 
shining  through  the  riven  clouds  of  the  war  and  betokening 
the  near  hour  when  the  fratricidal  strife  would  be  ended 
and  the  restored  Republic  rise  to  a  higher  and  nobler  life. 

But  I  will  not  detain  you  longer.  Let  me,  as  I  take  my 
seat,  thank  you,  Mr.  President,  for  your  kind  words  of 
welcome   this   evening   to   the  people  of   the  Pine    Street 


Ilcntarks  by  Dr.   WilHain  C.  Catkll.  285 

Church  as,  with  their  first  Pastor  and  the  beloved  man  who 
now  ministers  to  them  in  sacred  things,  they  are  gathered 
here  with  hearty  congratulations,  and  best  wishes  and  fervent 
prayers  for  the  dear  old  mother  Church.  We  highly  appre- 
ciate such  greeting  from  a  man  like  yourself,  whose  Chris- 
tian character  and  eminent  endowments  add  luster  to  the 
high  judicial  office  you  hold.  And  upon  all  the  congrega- 
tion and  their  honored  Pastor,  whom  I,  too,  like  his  own 
people,  have  learned  to  admire  and  love,  I  fervently  invoke 
the  continued  and  increasing  favor  of  Almighty  God. 

The  President:  I  need  not  remind  you  who  was  the 
first  pastor  of  this  Church.  I  do  not  intend  to  eulogize  him 
after  the  address  to  which  you  had  the  pleasure  of  listening 
last  night,  but  I  may  say  that  he  must  have  been  of  remark- 
ably good  stock.  Probably  his  harmonious  balance  of 
faculty  was  nowhere  more  admirably  shown  than  in  his 
selection  of  this  congregation  as  one  of  his  early  fields  of 
labor,  and  the  congregation,  I  have  no  doubt,  showed  an 
equal  balance  of  good  judgment  when  they  selected  him  as 
their  first  pastor. 

We  are  exceedingl}^  fortunate  to-night  in  having  two  of 
his  grandsons  with  us,  who  illustrate  the  excellence  of  the 
stock.  Mr.  Snowden's  descendants  have  been  distinguished 
in  all  the  departments  in  which  men  can  win  distinction 
for  themselves  in  civil,  military  and  diplomatic  life,  and  if 
there  is  any  other  position  of  trust  or  honor  to  which  the}' 
have  not  yet  attained,  I  am  sure  they  are  now  upon  the  way 
to  its  attainment.  I  will  call  first  upon  General  Snowden, 
grandson  of  the  first  Pastor  of  the  Church. 


286  Centennial  Memorial. 

Remarks  by  Major  General  George  R,  Snowden. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  am  very 
glad  to  be  here  with  you  to-night  on  this  interesting 
and  historic  occasion,  A  friend  remarked  to  me  not 
long  since,  that  he  thought  I  was  a  much  better  Presby- 
terian in  theory  than  in  practice.  Without  disputing  his 
opinion,  I  confess  to  be  among  the  best  Presbyterians  in 
theory.  Because  I  believe  that  any  man  or  woman  raised 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  her  Sunday-schools,  under 
the  sound  of  the  gospel  as  it  has  been  preached  from  her 
pulpits  in  this  country  for  the  past  200  years,  must  realize 
that  our  civil  institutions  are  based  if  not  upon  the  con- 
fession of  faith  and  the  shorter  chatechism  at  least  upon  her 
form  of  government.  The  theory  of  our  federal  union  is 
based  upon  the  form  of  government  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  as  was  once  wisely  said  by  Chief  Justice  Tilghman. 
The  first  principle  of  Presbyterian  polity  is  republicanism. 
It  is  based  upon  the  consent  and  intelligence  alike  of  the 
governing  and  the  governed.  I  do  not  think  it  too  much 
to  say  that  had  not  our  Presbyterian  forefathers  come  to 
this  country  and  advanced  to  the  Cumberland  Valley,  we 
would  not  now  be  living  in  a  land  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty,  wisely  said  by  the  Puritan  poet,  Milton,  to  be  the 
most  precious  of  all  our  earthly  possessions.  When  the 
pioneers  of  this  Church  went  forward  to  the  wilderness  they 
took  with  them  the  Bible  and  established  the  meeting 
house  and  the  school. 

There  are  no  doubt  sections  of  the  country  more  noted  in 
history  than  yours.  Philadelphia  has  the. State  House  and 
the  Bell,  and  the  achievements  of  New  England  have  been 


Remarks  by  Major  General  George  R.  Snowden.      287 

celebrated  by  poet  and  historian.  Our  ancestors  rushing 
on  to  clear  the  wilderness,  to  drive  back  the  savage,  to  open 
the  West  to  settlement,  were  too  busy  making  history,  to 
have  time  to  write  it.  It  is  very  gratifying  now  to  see  that 
in  the  last  few  years  the  deeds  of  Pennsylvanians  are  be- 
coming better  known.  They  were  as  distinguished,  and  our 
ancestors  were  as  earnest  and  active  in  the  Revolution  as 
the  patriots  of  Massachusetts,  Virginia,  or  of  any  other  part 
of  our  country.  This  section  not  so  famous  in  history  or 
known  abroad  as  it  ought  to  be,  is  one  which  can  refer 
with  the  greatest  pride  to  its  course  in  the  Eevolution,  to 
the  part  which  it  took  in  securing  Independence  and  the 
Union.  The  spirit  of  patriotism  was  so  strong  that  persons 
suspected  of  luke-warmness  to  the  cause  were  subjected  to 
trial  and  punishment  as  well  in  the  church  as  the  civil 
courts.  It  is  no  wonder  considering  the  character  of  the 
early  settlers  of  these  valleys  that  here  was  recruited  the  most 
distinguished  regiment  which  ever  carried  the  flag,  bearing 
it  aloft  in  honor  from  Quebec  to  Yorktown,  the  First  Con- 
tinental. The  men  who  went  forth  from  Paxtang,  Silvers' 
Spring,  Carlisle  and  Chambersburg  were  ever  at  the  front 
and  yielded  to  none  in  devotion  to  the  cause  to  which  they 
pledged  themselves  and  their  fortunes. 

From  your  valley  proceeded  South  and  West  influences 
which  led  to  the  success  of  the  Revolution  and  the  formation 
of  the  Union.  We  have  the  authority  of  Washington  that 
without  the  Presbyterians  the  cause  would  have  failed. 
The  swarms  of  Presbyterians,  like  bees,  industrious  but  quick, 
if  disturbed,  to  sting,  which  settled  here  and  went  on  to 
the  Southwest  were  the  men  who  won  the  battle  of  King's 


288  Centennial   Memorial. 

Mountain,  and  forced  Cornwallis  to  Yorktown  where  he 
surrendered  to  the  genius  of  Washington.  The  Declaration 
at  Mecklenburg  preceded  that  of  Philadelphia.  Our  ancestors 
took  a  prominent  and  influential  part  in  achieving  the 
liberties  of  the  American  people  and  in  forming  the  plan  of 
government  under  which  the  country  has  so  greatly  grown 
and  prospered. 

It  is  the  advantage  of  our  free  institutions  that  they 
develope  the  character  of  the  individual  citizen.  I  recollect 
very  well  when  quite  young  commanding  a  company  in 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  hearing  the  men  in  the  ranks 
talk  of  their  duty.  Nearly  all  of  them  were  from  the  hum- 
blest walks  in  life,  yet  they  seriously  considered  the 
obligations  resting  upon  them ;  they  felt  that  they  were 
fighting  for  the  liberties  of  themselves  and  of  their  posterity, 
every  man  carrying  a  musket  realizing  that  the  success  of 
the  war  was  his  individual  concern.  No  armies  of  other 
countries  could  ever  have  that  personal  and  patriotic  senti- 
ment. Those  who  march  under  the  brilliant  colors  of 
England,  German}^,  or  Russia  cannot  comprehend,  for  they 
have  never  felt,  that  sense  of  manhood  and  of  citizenship 
which  the  American  citizen  entertained  when  he  went  forth 
as  a  volunteer.  I  speak  of  this,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  other- 
wise it  might  be  out  of  place  on  this  occasion,  simply 
because  I  believe  it  to  be  largely  owing  to  the  teachings  and 
the  traditions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  It  was  born  in 
persecution  ;  its  flourished  in  spite  of  all  assaults  made  upon 
it  by  weapons  spiritual  and  militant,  to  reduce  to  servitude 
men  who  believed  in  this  Bible.  They  drew  from  the 
teachings  of  the  New  Testament  that  all  men  are  created 


Remarks  by  Major  General  George  R.  Snoivden.      289 

free  and  equal ;  they  believed  that  government  is  justl}^ 
based  vipon  the  right  of  every  man  to  a  voice  in  it,  and 
they  learned  from  experience  the  necessity  of  every  man's 
being  ready  when  occasion  requires  with  strong  arm  and 
resolute  heart  to  defend  his  principles.  The  Scotch-Irish 
especially,  coming  into  your  valley,  founded  a  community 
based  upon  liberty,  upon  the  belief  that  man  is  capable  and 
ought  to  govern  himself. 

There  are  not  as  man}^  Presbyterians  in  the  country  as 
there  should  be ;  there  ought  to  be  more  of  them.  I  do  not 
speak  of  the  religious  doctrines  of  the  Church,  others  more 
capable  have  done  so.  But  its  polity  I  do  not  believe  is 
equaled  by  any  other  religious  organization  in  the  world, 
and  it  is  superior  to  all  in  unswerving  and  uncompro- 
mising devotion  to  civil  and  religious  libert}'.  From  its 
formation  to  the  present  its  voice  has  ever  been  for  the 
right  of  man  to  govern  himself,  to  worship  his  Creator 
according  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience  and  to 
maintain  that  no  one  can  come  between  him  and  his 
Master.  It  would,  therefore,  be  better  for  the  country  if 
there  were  more  Presbyterians,  better  for  the  welfare  and 
permanence  of  our  civil  institutions.  But  there  are  enough 
of  them,  as  we  believe,  to  preserve  our  liberties  to  the 
remotest  generation ;  at  least  enough  to  stand  forth  on 
every  battlefield,  in  peace  or  war,  to  indicate  these  sacred 
principles.  As  long  as  the  Presbyterian  Church  shall 
endure,  to  the  end  of  time  there  will  be  a  strong,  perhaps  a 
dominating  element  in  the  land  which  will  have  a  con- 
trolling voice  in  higher  politics,  tending  to  the  perfection 
and  perpetuity  of  our  free  institutions. 


290  '     Centennial  Memorial. 

At  the  conclusion  of  General  Snowden's  address,  Miss 
Bunton  sang  with  fine  expression,  "  The  Angel  Came,"  by 
F.  H.  Cowen. 

The  President:  I  spoke  of  hvo  grandsons,  you  will  re- 
member, and  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  say  that  the  gentleman 
who  will  next  address  you  has,  like  his  cousin  to  whom  you 
have  just  listened,  a  claim  of  his  own  upon  your  attention. 
He  is  not  only  the  grandson  of  the  first  pastor  of  the 
church,  but  he  is  also  one  of  the  most  distinguished  mem- 
bers of  the  Pennsylvania  bar — Mr.  Ross  Thompson,  of  Erie. 

Remarks  by  Col.  J.  Ross  Thompson. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gcntlemen  :  I  am  much 
indebted  to  the  pastor  of  this  church,  Dr.  Stewart,  and  some 
warm  friends  for  a  kind  invitation  to  be  present  and  par- 
ticipate in  the  interesting  ceremonies  commemorating  the 
Centennial  anniversary  of  this  church,  of  which  my  grand- 
father was  the  first  pastor. 

The  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  origin  of  this 
church  naturally  takes  the  mind's  eye  back  over  the  records 
of  the  past  and  grasps  in  the  stupendous  results  of  these 
years  and  the  wonderful  strides  taken  in  science  and  arts. 
Monarchies  have  risen  and  fallen.  Republics,  like  meteors, 
have  flashed  across  the  pages  of  history.  Wars  of  most 
stupendous  character,  involving  momentous  questions  and 
fates  of  nations,  have  been  waged.  The  pages  of  history  are 
full  of  startling  events,  all  in  the  life  time  of  this  church. 

Steam,  with  its  wonderful  transporting  powers,  the  elec- 
tric wire  encircling  the  earth,  and  on  the  wings  of  the 
lighting,  carrying  messages  to  the  antipodes,  the  iron  horse, 


Remarks  by  Col.  J.  Ross  TJiompson.  291 

the  steam  railroad,  the  steam  boat,  the  sewing  machine, 
the  photograph  and  the  thousands  of  inventions  useful  to 
mankind,  have  come  into  play  in  the  life  of  this  church. 

In  the  centennial  celebration  of  the  adoption  of  the  Fed- 
eral Constitution,  at  Philadelphia,  I  saw  an  object  lesson 
in  the  strides  in  transportation  in  the  last  one  hundred 
years.  First  in  the  procession  came  the  pack  horses,  with 
pack  saddles,  the  first  mode  of  transportation,  then  follow- 
ing the  pack  horses  came  the  old  Conestoga  wagons,  follow- 
ing this  came  the  canal  boat,  following  this  a  corps  of  civil 
engineers  with  their  instruments,  their  levels  and  transits, 
following  them  the  workingmen  with  the  shovels  and  picks, 
next  came  the  old  fashioned  locomotive,  following  this  the 
modern  engine  of  sixty  tons^  then  the  old  fashioned  railroad 
coaches,  next  the  new  and  palatial  cars,  winding  up  with 
the  grand  Pulman  palace  car.  Starting  with  the  pack 
horse  and  winding  up  with  the  palace  car,  demonstrating 
the  wonderful  progress  of  transportation  witliin  the  hundred 
years  of  this  church.  Our  ancestors  came  here  in  the  days 
of  the  pack  horse  and  pack  saddle.  This  was  then  the  only 
mode  of  transportation. 

In  the  same  procession  there  was  another  object  lesson, 
illustrating  in  a  like  manner  the  progress  of  civilization  and 
the  Christianized  results  of  the  work  of  the  churches  and 
within  the  life  time  of  this  church.  I  saw  this  procession 
headed  by  the  savage  Indians  from  the  plains,  decked  in 
full  war  paint  and  the  feathers  of  the  untrained  and  un- 
civilized savage;  following  behind  the  men  on  horseback 
came  a  great  array  of  little  people  dressed  in  gray,  not  with 


292  Centennial  Memorial. 

bows  and  arrows,  but  in  their  little  arms  carrying  slates  and 
pencils,  and  figuring  and  ciphering  upon  those  slates. 

Following  them  came  the  Indian  girls  in  wagons  working 
at  the  industries  their  Christian  sisters  worked  upon ;  I  saw" 
them  followed  by  the  young  Indians  working  at  the  trades, 
some  at  the  saddler's  and  some  at  the  tinsmith's  trade. 
Starting  in  with  the  savage  at  the  front  and  winding  up 
with  the  Christianized  man  in  the  end.  This  in  the  age  of 
this  Church ;  from  savagery  to  Christianity.  I  thought  then 
of  the  grand  school  at  Carlisle,  where  those  Indians  were 
educated,  and  of  Carlisle  as  the  home  of  my  ancestors.  The 
thought  of  those  Indians  at  Carlisle  recalled  an  incident  in 
the  life  of  my  grandmother,  the  wife  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  R. 
Snowden,  who  resided  there.  The  father  of  my  grandmother 
was  in  Wyoming  at  the  time  of  the  massacre  by  the  Indians. 
The  Indian  chief  knew  Dr.  Gustine.  My  grandmother  was 
a  small  child  at  the  time.  The  chieftain  had  saved  Dr. 
Gustine  from  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife  of  the 
Indians.  As  you  recall,  a  portion  of  the  massacre  occurred 
in  the  day  time.  When  night  approached  Brandt,  the  half- 
breed  chieftain,  took  Dr.  Gustine  with  his  little  daughter 
down  to  the  Susquehanna,  putting  Dr.  Gustine  and  his  little 
girl  into  a  canoe,  told  him  to  paddle  for  his  life.  He 
paddled  down  the  Susquehanna  to  Harris  Ferr}^  now 
Harrisburg,  and  went  from  thence  to  Carlisle  with  his 
daughter,  who  afterwards  became  the  mother  of  my  mother. 
I  thought  of  that  circumstance  in  relation  to  the  Indian  and 
the  civilization  marked  in  this  century.  I  would  say,  Mr 
President,  that  if  the  spirit  of  my  grandfather  should  come 
down    here  to-day  to  see  the  strides  made  in   this  great 


Remarks  by  Col.  J.  Ross  Tliompson.  293 

Church,  to  see  this  vast  building  with  its  beautiful  arrange- 
ments, its  organ,  its  beautiful  windows,  and  would  think  of 
the  little  church  he  held  over  the  jail,  he  would  see  in  this 
one  of  the  most  wonderful  strides  made  in  the  last  hundred 
years. 

I  feel  when  I  am  talking  here  that  I  am  talking,  Mr. 
President,  upon  the  ground  that  my  ancestors  occupied.  I 
feel  that  when  I  am  talking  here  I  am  recalling  reminis- 
censes  to  people  who  are  as  much  interested  in  them  as  I  am 
myself.  I  can  recall  many  curious  things  in  my  days. 
Some  of  you  that  are  as  old  know  that  back  in  those  days 
we  did  not  have  any  hymn  books.  We  had  what  we  called 
the  clerk,  who  sat  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  He  had  his  tuning 
fork  and  would  read  off  two  lines  and  away  we  would  go 
and  then  we  would  try  again,  then  all  would  join  in  and 
sing.  Some  of  you  will  recall  this.  There  was  a  very 
peculiar  characteristic  of  the  preaching  when  I  was  quite  a 
lad.  I  can  recall  with  vividness,  they  always  began  with 
firstly,  then  secondly,  lastly,  allow  me  to  conclude,  and  let 
me  add.  These  things  generally  took  about  two  hours  and 
a  half.  Then,  too,  the  prayers.  They  were  very  able 
prayers,  but  they  were  powerfully  long.  I  recall  when  I 
was  a  lad  visiting  my  grandfather's  house  that  he  always 
had  prayers  evening  and  morning.  I  could  always  tell 
when  the  old  gentleman  was  about  half  through,  for  at  this 
point  he  always  prayed  for  the  downfall  of  the  Pope  of 
Rome,  the  anti-Christ. 

I  want  to  say  that  in  those  days  in  my  youth  there  were 
not  the  Christian  liberality  and  spirit  prevailing  as  to-day. 
We  can  recall  how  we  Old  School  Presbyterians  warred  with 


294  Centennial  Memorial. 

the  New  School,  and  how  we  warred  with  other  denomina- 
tions. But  there  is  a  Christian  liberality  all  prevailing.  It 
seems  sometimes  to  me  as  if  while  not  agreeing  on  the  non- 
essentials, we  all  agree  on  the  essentials. 

My  grandfather  was  very  happ}'  in  his  later  days  when 
he  could  mount  his  old  iron-gray  horse,  and  with  his  old 
saddle  bags,  travel  to  some  brother  pastor's  church  and 
preach  on  Sunday.  The  old  gentleman  always  spoke 
kindly  of  Harrisburg.  I  have  heard  him  say  that  when  he" 
preached  here  it  was  scarcely  a  village.  My  mother  was 
born  in  this  town.  I  feel  as  I  am  talking  to-night  that  I 
am  talking  to  old  friends  of  my  famil}'-  and  myself.  My 
grandfather  preached  in  various  places  throughout  the 
State,  but  he  always  had  a  kind  corner  in  his  heart  for 
Harrisburg  and  Harrisburg  people  He  often  spoke  of  his 
church  here  and  of  the  kindness  of  the  people,  and  that 
some  of  the  happiest  days  of  his  life  had  been  spent  in  the 
city,  or  then  village,  for  it  was  not  even  a  borough,  of  Har- 
risburg. He  belonged  to  the  Old  School  of  cast-iron  Pres- 
byterianism.  He  belonged  to  that  class  of  men  that  Gen- 
Snowden  spoke  about,  who,  with  the  axe  on  one  shoulder 
and  the  rifle  on  the  other,  went  into  the  virgin  forests,  and 
cleared  them  away  and  also  drove  out  the  savages.  He 
belonged  to  that  stern  class  of  Presbyterianism  that  in  the 
West  sat  with  the  Bible  on  top  of  the  pulpit  and  the  rifle 
in  the  corner.  These  Presbyterians  swarmed  through  here 
into  the  Western  States,  diverging  into  those  Western  States 
and  conquering  them.  I  am  proud  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  the  Church  of  my  grandparents,  my  parents,  the 
Church  whose  mark  has  been   made  in  the  history  of  our 


Remarks  by  Rev.  Henry  E.  Mies.  295 

common  country.  A  Church  that  did  more  than  any  other 
in  winning  the  great  West,  the  Cliurcli  that  has  stood  by 
the  country  in  all  times  of  distress  and  trouble.  A  Church 
that  has  produced  more  great  divines,  more  great  statesmen 
than  any  other.  A  grand  Church  laboring  in  the  cause  of 
religion  and  humanity  and  will  continue  its  work  until 
time  shall  be  no  more. 

The  President:  I  quite  agree  with  General  Snowden,  that 
there  ought  to  be  more  Presbyterians.  Still,  they  are  by  no 
means  a  feeble  folk  or  few  in  number.  This  region  contains 
many  of  them,  and  in  a  neighboring  town  there  is  a  strong 
congregation  of  our  brethren  whose  pastor  is  here  to-night 
to  bring  us  their  greetings  and  his  own.  I  have  great 
pleasure  in  presenting  to  you  Dr.  Niles,  of  York. 

Remarks  by  Rev.  Henry  E.  Niles,  D.  D. 

Mr,  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  I  am  not  here 
to-night  for  the  purpose  of  speech  making,  but  had  I  come 
for  such  object  I  think  it  would  plainly  be  the  part  of 
wisdom,  at  this  late  hour,  not  to  trespass  upon  your  time 
and  patience.  Hindered  from  an  earlier  acceptance  of  the 
kind  invitation  of  your  committee,  to  partake  of  the  pleasures 
of  your  various  exercises  on  this  anniversar}'-  week,  I 
was  glad  to  come  even  at  the  eleventh  hour.  I  wanted  to 
revisit  scenes  that  have  been  familiar  in  the  past,  to  reclasp 
old  bonds  of  friendship,  to  form  others  that  shall  be  new, 
and  to  drink  ni  some  of  the  intellectual  and  spiritual  ozone 
which  I  felt  sure  must  be  flowing  about  abundantly   here. 

I  suppose  I  am  called  upon  now,  not  so  much  for  my  own 


296  ^  Centennial  31emorial. 

sake,  as  because  T  may  represent  a  Sister  Church  in  a  neigh- 
boring city,  which,  according  to  its  charter,  bears  a  similar 
distinctive  name  ;  which  is,  I  believe,  somewhat  older  than 
this  ;  and  also,  for  a  portion  of  the  last  century,  was  asso- 
ciated ecclesiastically  with  this.  I  take  pleasure,  therefore, 
in  presenting  to  the  members  of  the  "English  Presbyterian 
congregation  of  Harrisburg,"  the  fraternal  salutations  of  the 
"English  Presbyterian  congregation  of  York."  Your  senior 
by  several  years  and  a  little  more  venerable,  perhaps,  but  a 
Church,  I  am  sure,  which,  cherishes  the  most  kindly  interest 
in  your  welfare  and  rejoices  that  you  have  come  to  this 
period  of  maturity,  with  so  many  evidences  of  spiritual 
vigor  and  general  prosperity. 

If  you  want  me  to  say  more,  it  shall  be  in  the  line 
suggested  by  our  dear  brother.  Dr.  Cattell,  for  I  too,  am 
carried  back  to  my  first  acquaintance  with  Harrisburg.  It  was 
in  that  time  which  tried  men's  souls,  near  the  close  of  the 
war,  when  from  an  old  dingy  car  that  had  seen  hard  service 
for  the  country,  and  was  then  filled  with  soldiers  going 
towards  the  front,  I  first  looked  upon  this  goodly  city.  Of 
course,  I  had  some  general  ideas  of  its  character  and 
importance,  as  the  State  Capital,  but  as  from  the  window  of 
that  car  standing  a  little  while,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Susquehanna,  the  view  was  presented,  "beautiful  for  situa- 
tion" seemed  your  loved  city,  which  might  well  be  the  joy 
of  the  whole  commonwealth.  While  I  could  not  but  notice 
the  substantial  buildings  that  lined  the  streets,  symbolic  of 
the  character  of  the  population,  and  those  on  the  Capitol 
Hill,  well  suited  for  the  legislators  and  other  officials  of  the 
State,  my  attention  was  soon  turned  to  a  tall,  symmetrical. 


Remarks  by  Rev.  Henry  E.  Niks.  297 

beautiful  spire  which  loomed  up  in  the  foreground,  and 
which  I  learned  was  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 

Not  long  after,  as  I  well  remember,  came  my  introduction 
to  the  pastors  of  the  Church,  the  venerable,  scholarly  and 
accomplished  Dr.  DeWitt;  and  his  junior  colleague,  con- 
cerning whom,  here  in  his  presence,  I  forbear  to  use  such 
adjectives  as  my  heart  prompts  me  to  employ,  and  such 
as  I  am  sure  your  high  appreciation  of  him  would  endorse. 

The  circumstances  were  peculiar.  The  events  transpiring 
in  our  country  were  such  as  the  world  remembers  with 
thrilling  interest. 

On  Friday  evening,  April  14,  1865,  the  Presbytery,  with 
which  our  churches  were  connected,  convened  in  semi- 
annual meeting  at  York,  and  in  connection  with  the  usual 
business  of  that  session,  it  was  expected  that  I  would  be 
installed  joastor  of  the  York  congregation.  It  was  the 
evening  of  that  memorable  day  when  the  stars  and  stripes, 
which  had  been,  for  four  years,  lowered  at  Fort  Sumpter, 
were  restored  to  their  former  position,  Henry  Ward  Beecher 
being  the  orator  of  the  occasion.  This  fact,  together  with 
the  rec6nt  capture  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  and  the 
surrender  of  Lee  and  his  army  to  General  Grant,  had  filled 
the  country  with  joy.  Dr.  Robinson  preached  the  opening 
sermon  of  Presbytery,  and  on  the  next  day  it  was  expected 
that  the  regular  business  would  be  attended  to,  and  on 
Sabbath,  together  with  various  popular  meetings,  would  be 
the  ceremony  of  installation.  But  on  Saturday  morning, 
how  startling  the  intelligence  that  was  flashed  across  the 
land,  and  filled  every  loyal  heart  with  consternation ! 
What  a  thrill  of  horror  passed  through  our  communities, 


298  Centennial  Memoriol. 

on  that  15th  da}^  of  April,  when  successive  telegrams 
announced,  "  President  Lincoln  assassinated  !"  "  Secretary 
Seward  simultaneously  assaulted  !"  "  Secretary  Stanton  and 
Chief  Justice  Chase  imperilled  !"  "  The  President  dead !" 

When  Presbytery  convened  that  morning,  no  wonder  that 
our  expected  delightful  service  was  turned  into  a  scene  of 
anxiety  and  sorrow  and  shame  !  And  when  the  venerable 
Dr.  DeWitt  w^as  called  to  lead  us  in  prayer  to  the  God  of 
Providence,  the  Governor  of  the  Universe,  no  wonder  that 
we  felt  our  help  must  be  ni  Him  alone.  Next  day,  that 
church  which  otherwise  had  been  decorated  with  symbols 
of  joy  and  gladness,  was  hung  with  the  black  emblems  of 
mourning.  Although  the  aj^pointed  services  were  held, 
conflicting  emotions  were  in  our  hearts.  Under  other 
oircumstances,  I  might  be  tempted  to  say  more  in  this  con- 
nection. I  have  only  alluded  to  that  memorable  time,  as 
the  beginning  of  my  acquaintance  with  your  pastors,  in 
connection  with  the  little  "'  New^  School  Presbytery  of  Harris- 
burg."  ''Little"  she  may  have  been  "  among  the  thousands 
of  Judah,"  but  by  no  means  "  least  "  in  the  loyalty  of  her 
devotion  to  Evangelical  principles,  in  the  readiness  of  her 
members  for  Christian  service,  and  in  the  variety  and 
liberality  of  her  contributions  for  objects  of  Christian 
beneficence.  Her  ministers  and  elders  met  together  as 
brethren,  innocent  of  rivalries,  rejoicing  in  each  other's  com- 
panionship, and  confident  in  each  other's  fraternal  affection. 

But,  when  the  reunion  of  our  denomination  in  1870  gave 
occasion  for  the  readjustment  of  Presbyterial  boundaries, 
the  wedge  of  separation  was  driven  between  these  churches, 
and  some  of  us  were  brought  into  new  ecclesiastical  con- 


Remarks  by  Rev.  Henry  E.  Niles.  299 

nections.  From  that  time,  though  geographically  neigh- 
bors, the  churches  of  Harrisburg  and  York  have  had  but 
little  intercourse.  And  so,  at  length,  I  am  here  to-night, 
amid  familiar  scenes,  yet  somewhat  as  a  stranger.  Here, 
where  I  once  felt  so  much  at  home,  and  in  view  of  this  pul- 
pit where  I  often  stood  as  a  co-Presbyter,  it  almost  seems 
that  I  need  a  fresh  introduction  ! 

Yet,  I  am  not  entirely  ignorant  of  your  histor}^  during 
these  recent  years.  I  have  known  something  of  your  activ- 
ity and  power,  and  continued  enlargement.  I  have  marked 
"  your  work  of  Faith  and  labor  of  Love  and  patience  of 
Hope  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  sight  of  God,  even 
our  Father,  knowing  brethren  beloved,  your  election  of 
God." 

In  conclusion,  therefore,  let  me  repeat  to  you,  my  dear 
Brother  Stewart,  and  to  your  good  people,  the  salutations 
of  "The  English  Presbyterian  Church  of  York,"  and  assure 
you  that,  with  thanksgiving  to  God  for  distinguished  favors 
shown  to  you  in  the  past,  we  will  pray  that,  from  the  begin- 
ning of  this  new  century  on  which  you  are  entering,  the 
Sh'echinah  may  be  yet  more  constantly  manifest  among 
you,  and  the  joy  of  tlie  Lord  be  the  delight  of  your  souls! 

The  President  :  I  do  not  know  how  we  can  better  con- 
clude the  evening  than  b}^  just  one  further  word.  It  is 
probably  out  of  the  regular  order  from  a  chronological  point 
of  view,  but  sentimentally  it  seems  appropriate  to  conclude 
this  celebration  with  a  few  commendatory  words  from  the 
Mother  Church.  I  am  glad  to  call  upon  one  who  bears  a 
name  so  honored  in  this  region  as  does  Mr.  W.  Franklin 
Rutherford  of  the  Paxtang  Church. 


300  Centennial  Memorial. 

Remarks  by  Mr.  W.  Franklin  Rutherford. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  Away  back  in 
those  shadowy  times,  before  the  Quaker  had  crossed  the 
Brandywine,  or  the  famous  cherrytree  had  been  planted 
in  the  garden  of  Mr.  Washington,  a  band  of  choice  spirits 
from  Ulster,  composed  of  men,  women  and  children 
had  penetrated  the  wilds  of  Paxtang  and  appropriated 
to  themselves  the  southern  slojies  of  the  beautiful  hills, 
east  of  the  spot  upon  which  we  now  stand.  And  as  a 
characteristic  of  the  race  wherever  found,  they  brought  with 
them  the  Church  and  the  school-house,  and  with  admirable 
taste,  and  a  prescience  not  yet  fully  appreciated,  located 
both  in  Paxtang  Valley,  and  when  history  reached  the 
place  in  1732  as  recorded  in  the  minutes  of  Donegal 
Presbytery,  she  found  there  Old  Paxtang  Church. 

The  building  thus  found  was  of  logs,  and  was  rej^laced 
in  1740  by  a  stone  meeting  house,  which  like  Concord, 
Lexington  and  Bunker's  Hill,  still  remains,  and  there  we 
hope,  it  will  remain  until  the  Church  Militant  shall  have 
been  supplanted  by  the  Church  triumphant.  Every  one 
knows  that  the  history  of  Paxtang  Church,  down  to  the  close 
of  the  Revolution,  is  in  large  measure,  the  history  of  this 
portion  of  Pennsylvania,  but  its  history  throughout  has 
been  so  lately  and  so  ably  recited  on  several  different 
occasions,  that  I  shall  not  now  inflict  upon  you  a  thrice 
told  tale. 

There  is,  however,  one  circumstance  relating  to  the 
makeup  of  the  congregation  during  the  Revolutionary 
period,  and  for  many  years  thereafter,  which  may  be  of 
interest  to  you  as  descendants,  and  which  I  think  has  never 


Eemarh  by  Mr.  W.  FranUin  Rutherford.  301 

been  brought  out.  And  when  I  bring  it  out  do  not 
demand  documentary  evidence.  I  rely  upon  the  deeper 
and  more  solid  foundation  of  tradition,  and  follow  the 
injunction  which  the  Apostle  Paul  endeavored  with  all  the 
force  of  his  matchless  eloquence  to  impress  upon  the 
Thessalonians,  "  Stand  fast,  and  hold  the  traditions  which 
ye  have  been  taught."  The  minister  of  Paxtang  and  all 
his  office-bearers  were  men  of  high  military  rank.  Mr. 
Elder  was  a  colonel,  and  his  bench  of  ruling  elders  ranked 
from  Captain  to  Brigadier,  and  were  a  body  of  men  who 
never  thought  of  shirking  duty  under  cover  of  the  old 
excuse  implied  in  the  question,  "  am  I  my  brother's 
keeper?"  Their  meetings  savored  strongl}^  of  the  camp: 
discipline  was  complete  and  the  word  of  the  reverend  com- 
manding officer  was  both  law  and  gospel. 

Trials  before  this  body  partook  of  the  brevity  and  direct- 
ness of  a  martial  court,  and  the  culprit  was  usually 
convicted.  The  laity  was  of  like  material,  and  ranked 
from  Corporal  to  Major  General,  comprising  magistrates 
and  statesmen  from  constable  to  Senator  of  the  United 
States,  all  patriotic  to  the  backbone,  and  woe  betide  the 
unfortunate  Tory  or  "  Britisher,"  who  dared  to  show  his 
face  within  the  portals  of  the  old  stone  meeting  house. 

There  is  also  a  little  episode  in  our  history,  which  I  think 
you  will  pardon  me  if  I  mention,  as  it  has  a  very  important 
bearing  upon  the  present  happy  occasion,  and,  but  for 
which  you  would  have  had  no  Centennial  to  celebrate 
After  having  passed  successfully  through  the  struggles  of 
early  youth  and  the  bitterness  consequent  upon  numerous 
civil  and  religious  controversies,  we  had  just  settled  down 


302  Centennial  Memorial. 

to  the  enjoyment  of  that  peace  and  comfort  which  follows  a 
consciousness  of  work  well  done,  when  suddenly  trouble 
arose  in  the  family,  our  eldest  daughter,  (a  wayward  child), 
began  to  scheme  for  a  slice  of  our  territory,  upon  which  to 
establish  a  Church  of  her  own.  This  proceeding  was  looked 
upon  by  the  stern  old  rulers  of  Paxtang  as  treason  and  rank  in- 
gratitude,-and  they  must  not  be  censured  on  this  account,  for, 
be  it  remembered,  they  lived  in  the  tallow  candle  age,  when 
the  delusion  prevailed  that  parents  were  wiser  than  their 
children,  nor  are  we  sure  that  the  discipline  then  admin- 
istered to  our  daughter,  which  restrained  her  impetuosity 
for  at  least  a  decade,  was  not  a  blessing  in  disguise,  as  it 
developed  that  fortitude  and  earnest  endeavor  to  be  worthy 
of  the  claim  she  then  set  up,  which  has  characterised  her 
career  ever  since,  and  has  rendered  her  one  of  the  brightest 
jewels  in  the  crown  of  Old  Paxtang's  glory. 

I  wish  to  say  further,  that  although  the  Mother  Church, 
for  a  long  time  after  the  separation,  sulked  in  her  tent,  and 
said  some  severe  things  about  the  daughter,  she  never  per- 
mitted any  one  else  to  do  so  in  her  hearing,  and  was  all  the 
while  secretly  rejoicing  in  the  prosperity  and  religious 
growth  of  the  new  enterprise.  Long  years  ago  all  animosity 
ceased  and  from  the  beginning  of  Dr.  DeWitt's  ministry 
down  to  the  present  hour,  her  ministers  have  frequently 
filled  the  pulpit  of  the  Mother  Church,  and  have  been  al- 
most as  well  known  and  as  much  beloved  there  as  here. 

And  now  in  these  commemorative  exercises,  which  it  is 
eminently  fitting  you  should  observe,  I  would  say  to  our 
daughter.  The  Mother  Church  is  here  to  rejoice  with  you 
and  to  give  voice  to  her  pride  in  the  noble  record  which 


Social  Reception.  303 

God  has  enabled  you  to  make  during  the  century  just  now 
folding  itself  away,  and  to  bid  you  God-speed  throughout 
all  time  to  come. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Rutherford's  speech,  the  com- 
pany in  the  auditorium  returned  to  the  social  rooms,  and 
resumed  their  participation  in  the  social  intercourse  of  the 
hour. 

The  evening  wore  on,  and  yet  such  was  the  delightful- 
ness  of  the  occasion  that  the  company  dispersed  slowly,  and 
it  was  not  until  after  eleven  o'clock  that  the  last  guests  left 
the  house,  and  Centennial  Week  came  to  a  close.  It  was  a 
fitting  conclusion  of  a  most  delightful  celebration.  It  could 
hardly  be  said  to  be  anything  less  than  a  goodly  fellowship 
of  the  saints.  The  whole  celebration  from  Sunday  morning 
to  Friday  night  was  one  continuous,  brilliant,  gratifying 
success.  Those  who  were  most  closely  identified  with  it, 
and  who  lingered  till  the  last  in  the  sanctuary  where  it  had 
been  carried  forward  felt  that  as  it  began  with  the  Doxology, 
it  ought  to  close  with  the  same. 

Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow ; 
Praise  Him,  all  creatures  here  below ; 
Praise  Him  above,  ye  heavenly  host. 
Praise  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 


CENTENNIAL  GREETINGS. 


GOD'S  SURE  COVENANT.* 


By  Charles  Nelson  Hickok. 


Lines  suggested  by  an  invitation  to  the  centennial  celebration  of 
the  Market  Square  Presbyterian  Church,  Harrisburg,  and  by  coinci- 
dental recollections  of  the  writer's  membership  and  associations 
therein,  more  than  a  half  century  ago. 

'Tis  said  that  sires  were  wont  to  tell 
Their  sons,  in  ancient  Israel, 

The  wonders  God  had  wrought ; — 
How  the  oppressor's  hosts  were  slain, 
While,  scathless,  through  the  riven  main, 

The  chosen  tribes  were  brought : — 

How,  by  His  own  almighty  arm — 
Through  tumult,  danger  and  alarm  ; 

Their  pilot,  comfort,  stay ; 
Their  beacon  through  the  baleful  night ; 
Their  shelter  from  the  noonday  blight — 

He  led  their  devious  way  : — 

How  manna  fell — by  Heaven  bestowed  ; — 
From  srhitten  rock  how  waters  flowed, 

T'  refresh  the  weary  band  ; 
Till  safe,  with  neither  scrip  nor  gold  ; 
With  sandals  never  waxing  old, 

They  reached  the  promised  land. 

*The  centennial  celebration  called  out  several  poems  from  members 
and  friends  of  the  congregation.  The  Committee  on  Publication 
being  unable  for  lack  of  space  to  publish  all  of  these  contributions, 
have  selected  the  one  written  by  the  oldest  person  among  the  con- 
tributors, himself  for  several  years  and  until  his  removal  from  the  city, 
an  honored  member  of  the  church. — Editor. 


Centennial  Greetings.  305 

So,  in  these  courts,  God's  people  may 
Recount  His  wondrous  deeds  to-day, 

Midst  grateful,  joyful  tears  ; 
His  myriad  benefits  recall, 
His  guiding,  prospering  hand  through  all 

The  century  of  years. 

A  hundred  times  the  tireless  sun 
His  annual  chariot-race  hath  run 

Back  to  his  starting  place  ; 
Yet  every  changing  cycle  past 
Beheld,  unchangeful  as  the  last, 

God's  covenant  of  grace  ! 

Successive  generations  bear 
Witness  to  His  unfailing  care. 

Whom  our  forefathers  praised, 
When  to  the  wilderness  they  came 
And,  to  the  honor  of  His  name, 

Their  ebenezer  raised. 

The  little  flock,  whom  Jesus  led — 
By  holy,  faithful  pastors  fed — 

Has  num'rous  grown  and  strong  ; 
And  it  becomes  their  children  well, 
The  numbers  of  His  love  to  tell 

In  a  perpetual  song  ; 

For  precious  is  their  heritage — 
The  holy  birthright  to  engage 

In  ministries  divine  ; — 
Theirs  lineage  of  nobler  blood — 
The  sons  and  daughters  of  our  God— 

Than  comes  through  royal  line  ! 

Bless'd  flock  !    Whom  sweeter  fruits  regale 
Than  clusters,  plucked  from  Eschol's  vale, 
The  sons  of  Judah  fed  ! 


306  Centennial  Memorial. 

Bless'd  Shepherd  !    By  whose  gentle  hand, 
Midst  peaceful  scenes  of  Christian  land, 
Thy  saints  are  comforted  ! 

O  Zion  of  Christ's  plighted  love, 
Thy  strong  foundations  who  can  move. 

Or,  hopefully,  assail? 
Though  all  the  ranks  of  darkness  swell. 
Against  thy  Rock  nor  death,  nor  hell 

Hath  power  to  prevail ! 

Dear  House  of  Prayer  !    How  bless'd  who  wait 
To  meet  The  Loi^d  within  thy  gate, 

Seeking  to  know  His  will ; 
Learning,  with  Him,  to  bear  the  cross  ; 
Finding — midst  conflict,  grief,  or  loss — 

In  Him,  their  refuge  still ! 

Walking  with  God,  no  foes  dismay  ! 
With  strength  apportioned  to  their  day. 

Nought  can  their  hope  destroy  ! 
Oft  sorrows  cloud  their  "  vale  of  tears," 
As  oft  The  Comforter  appears 

T'  o'erflow  their  cup  with  joy  ! 

And  when — life's  days  of  trial  o'er — 
Their  feet  draw  near  the  darkling  shore 

That  borders  death's  cold  sea. 
Their  faith  discerns  a  heavenly  form, 
And  hears  the  voice  that  still'd  the  storm, 

Of  old,  on  Galilee. 

Whether  in  Kalmia's*  peaceful  shade. 
Or  stranger-land  their  dust  be  laid. 
Or  'neath  the  ocean's  wave, 

*  The  name  by  which  Harrisburg  Cemetery  was  popularly  known 
forty  years  ago.— EDITOR. 


Centennial  Greetings.  307 

Christ's  covenant  that  dust  secures  ; 
His  resurrection-pledge  assures 
Their  rescue  from  the  grave  ! 

Then  let  glad  chants  and  hymns  arise, 
As  fragrant  incense,  to  the  skies, 

With  mighty  organ's  swell ! 
Join  every  voice  in  loud  acclaim  ! 
Shout  to  the  heavens  the  matchless  name 

Of  our  Immanuel ! 

Let  youth  and  age,  with  one  accord. 
Proclaim  the  glories  of  our  Lord, 

Th'  Eternal  God-head  bless  ! 
The  fathers  trusted  well  His  love, 
And  children's  children  live  to  prove 

Jehovah's  faithfulness ! 
Bedford,  Penn'a,  February,  1S94. 

Resolutions  Adopted  by  the  Elder  Street  Church, 
Harrisburg, 

Resolutious  adopted  by  the  members  of  the  Elder  Street 
Presbyterian  Church  on  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of 
the  Market  Square  Presbyterian  Church  : 

"  Whereas,  God  in  his  all- wise  providence  has  blessed  and 
preserved  in  our  midst  the  Market  Square  Presbyterian 
Church  for  the  period  of  a  full  century,  and  in  that  century 
God  through  the  Holy  Spirit  and  His  Word  has  wrought 
miraculous  temporal,  moral  and  spiritual  good  to  the  com- 
munity through  the  instrumentality  of  the  church  ;  there- 
fore, be  it 

"  Resolved,  That  we,  the  members  of  the  Elder  Street 
Presbyterian  Church,  realizing  that  through  the  good  men 


308  Centennial  Memorial. 

and  women,  who  have  been  God's  products  and  outgrowth 
of  the  Market  Square  Presbyterian  Church,  are  grateful  for 
our  existence  as  a  Church  in  this  community  and  most  heart- 
ily join  with  the  Christian  people  of  our  city  in  extending 
congratulations  to  this  Church  which  has  labored  so  suc- 
cessfully in  God's  vineyard  for  the  past  hundred  years, 
lifting  up  the  fallen,  building  up  and  sustaining  the  weak, 
and  advancing  the  principles  of  the  Fatherhood  of  God  and 
the  brotherhood  of  man.  We  unite  in  prayer  to  God  for 
continued  prosperity  and  such  an  out-pouring  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  upon  the  congregation  of  the  Market  Square  Church 
as  they  have  never  yet  experienced ;  and  we  further  pray 
that  Presbyterianism  as  taught  by  the  Market  Square 
Church  through  the  gospel  of  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour, 
ma}^  in  this  community  do  a  greater  work  for  humanity 
and  Christ  in  the  century  to  come  than  Presbyterianism  has 
accomplished  in  the  century  just  passed. 

B.  F.  Stewart, 
Mrs.  Eliza  Zedricks, 
James  H.  W.  Howard, 
Turner  Cooper,  Jr., 
"•^  Miss  Annie  Higgins, 

Committee." 

Letter   from   Hon.   A.   Louden  Snowden,  Grandson  of 
Rev.  Nathaniel  R.  Snowden. 

No.  1812  Spruce  Street,  February  loth,  1894.. 
Dear  Mr.  Stewart  : 

I  deeply  regret  that  an  unexpected  call  to  New  York  on 
important  business  will  deny  me  the  pleasure  of  participat- 


Centennial  Greetings.  309 

ing  in  the  interesting  ceremonies  of  your  Church,  of  which 
my  revered  grandfather  was  the  first  pastor. 

It  was  fully  my  intention  to  be  with  you,  and  to  this  end 
had  accepted  the  polite  invitation  of  my  cousin,  Mr.  Henry 
McCormick,  to  be  his  guest.  I  can  assure  you  that  nothing 
but  very  important  interests  could  prevent  my  being  with 
you.  I  shall  fully  explain  this  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  McCor- 
mick. I  beg  to  assure  you  of  my  high  appreciation  of  your 
considerate  kindness  in  asking  me  to  be  with  you,  and  of 
the  sincere  regret  I  have  in  not  being  able  to  meet  your 
wishes.     I  am, 

Respectfully  yours, 

A.  Louden  Snowden. 
Rev.  George  B.  Stew^art. 

Letter  from  Judge  Joseph  Allison,  a  Former  Member. 
No.  4207  Walnut  Street,  Philadelphia, 

February  13th,  189^. 
Lyman  D.  Gilbert,  Esq.: 

Dear  Sir  :  Yours  of  the  12th  inst.  has  just  been  received 
at  this  8 :  30  p.  m. 

Thanks  for  your  invitation  to  be  present  during  some 
portion  of  this  week  with  the  English  Presbyterian  congre- 
gation of  Harrisburg  during  the  Centennial  Celebration  of 
the  founding  of  the  Church. 

It  would  give  me  no  little  pleasure  to  accept  this  invitation, 
if  it  was  possible  for  me  to  be  in  Harrisburg  during  any 
portion  of  the  week  set  apart  for  the  services  in  commemo- 
ration of  this  interesting  occasion ;  but  I  have  been  quite 
unwell  for  some  time,  and  am  now  unable  to  make  the 


310  Centennial  Memorial. 

journey  to  my  native  city,  or  to  take  part  in  the  exercises  in 
which  I  would  be  glad  to  share  with  the  present  congrega- 
tion. 

With  respect,  therefore,  I  must  deny  myself  the  pleasure 

of  an  acceptance. 

Ver^''  truly  yours, 

Joseph  Allison. 

Letter  from  Mr.  D.  C.  Buchanan,  Son  op  Rev.  James 

Buchanan. 
Barracks  No.  21,  Soldier's  Home,  near  Dayton,  0, 

February  10,  1891^. 
Rev.  George  B.  Steavart  : 

Dear  Sir  :  My  sister,  Mattie  B.  Buchanan,  of  Logansport, 
sent  me  a  letter  written  by  you,  inquiring  if  she  knew  of 
any  likeness  or  picture  of  our  dear  father,  the  Rev.  James 
Buchanan.  I  do  not  think  there  is  one.  Artists  of  any 
kind  in  the  wilds  of  Indiana  were  very  scarce  in  his  day. 
The  only  likeness  ever  taken  of  him  that  I  know  anything 
about  was  from  memory.  An  artist  by  the  name  of  Geo. 
W.  Winters  settled  in  Logansport  a  short  time  before 
father's  death.  He  said  to  me  one  day,  "  I  hear  you  have 
no  likeness  of  your  father,  a  great  pity.  If  you  would  desire 
one  I  can  paint  one  from  memory  nearly  as  good,  as  if  he 
were  present.  I  thought  your  father  one  of  the  best  repre- 
sentatives of  the  old  divines  we  read  about.  I  have  often 
talked  with  Judges  Stewart  and  Biddle  here  about  it." 
"How  much  do  you  want  for  painting  it?"  "  Forty  dol- 
lars." "  All  right,  with  this  understanding,  if  mother  don't 
like  the  picture  I  am  not  to  pay  for  it."     "  All  right,"  he 


Centennial  Greetings.  311 

said.  After  it  was  finished  I  took  a  great  admirer  of  my 
father  to  see  it,  by  the  name  of  Gen.  Grover.  He  said, 
"  Winters,  I  have  a  much  better  likeness  of  Mr.  Buchanan 
over  in  my  house  than  yours."  ''Whose  is  it?"  "Gen. 
William  Henry  Harrison,  whom  we  elected  President  with 
the  help  of  coon-skins  and  hard  cider.  I  have  heard  that 
a  great  many  times.  I  always  thought  Mr.  Buchanan  was 
a  finer  looking  man  than  Harrison."  Mr.  Grover  said  to 
me,  "  Your  mother  won't  take  that  picture.  When  you  take 
it  out  for  her  to  see,  I  want  3''0U  to  take  the  Harrison  picture 
along  and  show  her  the  Winter's  picture  first.  I  know  she 
will  condemn  it."  As  soon  as  she  saw  it  she  said,  "  My  son, 
that  don't  look  like  your  father.  It  is  more  like  an  Italian 
brigand.  Tell  Mr.  Winters  I  don't  w^ant'it."  I  then  said, 
"  Hold  on,  mother ;  look  at  this  one."  Upon  seeing  it 
she  very  quickly  exclaimed  :  "  I  will  take  this  one."  Then 
I  explained  matters  to  her.  "  Well,  that  is  too  bad.  I  am 
not  to  have  a  likeness  of  3'our  father  after  all,"  said  she. 
Gen.  Grover  was  flattered  a  good  deal  when  he  heard 
mother's  report.  I  told  him,  "  I  can  give  you  further  proof 
about  your  judgment.  In  the  year  1836,  when  Gen. 
Harrison  made  his  political  tour  on  horseback  from  the 
Potomac  through  the  Cumberland  Valley  to  Harrisburg 
(over  the  same  route  which  Gen.  Lee  took  in  1863,  and  met 
his  defeat  at  Gettysburg),  some  of  my  father's  old  Whig 
friends  requested  him  to  ride  at  the  head  of  the  procession 
with  Harrison.  Father,  reflecting  over  the  matter,  told  his 
friends  he  did  not  think  it  would  look  very  well  for  a  min- 
ister of  the  gospel  to  be  marching  at  the  head  of  a  political 
procession,  so  declined  going.    The  young  ladies  went  along 


312  Centennial  Memorial. 

the  line  of  march  to  wave  their  flags  and  handkerchiefs  to 
salute  the  old  hero  of  Tippecanoe.  Three  young  ladies  went 
upstairs  in  Thomas  G.  McCullough's  house  as  the  proces- 
sion came  in  sight.  One  cried  out,  '  Wait  till  Harrison 
comes  up,  that  first  one  is  the  Rev.  James  Buchanan,  of 
Greencastle.'  So  the  old  hero  went  by  without  their  salute. 
I  got  that  from  authority."  That  I  thought  was  good. 
Father  graduated  at  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  Pa.  I 
don't  know  the  year.  After  he  got  what  the  Hoosiers  called 
his  "  sheep-skin  "  to  preach,  the  Harrisburg  church  gave 
him  a  call.  When  there  he  became  acquainted  with  a 
great  belle  and  beauty,  and  the  greatest  dancer  in  all  that 
part  of  the  country.  People  would  say,  "  Can  it  be  possible 
that  he  would  marry  that  flirt  and  coquette.  Miss  Hattie 
Berryhill."  Dr.  Als.  Berryhill,  her  brother,  would  say, 
"  Well  Hatt,  are  you  going  to  marry  the  preacher  ?" 
"  Don't  you  think  I  had  better  wait  until  he  asks  me  ?" 
Miss  Hattie  was  becoming  seriously  inclined  now.  "  Hatt, 
do  you  think  you  like  him?"  "  Why  not?  He  is  certainly 
the  best  looking  and  most  intelligent  gentleman  in  Harris- 
burg." "  Oh,  cracky,  cracky,  my  young  lady,  you  are  froze 
at  last,  goodbye,  farewell."  Many  times  have  I  heard  her 
say,  "  It  was  the  most  glorious  day  for  me  when  I  became 
acquainted  with  your  father,  for  he  snatched  me  from  the 
brink  of  ruin  and  despair.  Oh,  what  a  wild,  thoughtless, 
giddy  girl  I  was."  If  there  ever  was  a  true  genuine  Chris- 
tian she  was  one.  If  my  father  would  happen  to  be  absent 
over  night  she  would  lead  in  family  worship,  and  she  would 
do  it  well,  for  her  whole  soul  was  in  it. 

I  will  tell  you  of  one  case  of  the  good  she  did.     Miss 


Centennial  Greetings.  313 

Mary  Shoemaker  was  at  my  mother's  funeral.  She  came 
to  me,  the  tears  rolling  down  her  cheeks,  and  said,  "  Oh, 
Mr.  Buchanan,  to  that  sainted  mother  of  yours  I  owe  all 
the  glorious  hopes  I  have.  You  know  how  I  was  raised 
almost  an  infidel.  Thrice  blessed  may  her  memory  be. 
Farewell,  farewell,  may  her  sweet  prayers  be  answered  on 
your  behalf,  for  I  may  never  see  you  again."  This  turned 
out  to  be  the  case.  She  is  gone  to  her  long  home.  It 
seems  to  me  like  a  dream. 

I  have  gotten  too  old  to  write  mu(;h.  I  am  seventy-two. 
About  ten  years  older  than  my  father  at  his  death,  and 
about  ten  years  younger  than  my  mother  at  her  death. 

Now  if  there  is  anything  in  this  scrawl  that  you  can  use 
for  the  Centennial,  it  will  pay  for  all  my  trouble.  One 
thing  is  certain,  it  is  all  true  as  far  as  I  know  and  believe. 

My  father's  death  was  very  sudden  and  unexpected.     He 

went   to  church   in    his   usual   health.     When  about  half 

through  his  sermon  he  told   his  congregation  he  was  too 

unwell  to  finish  it.     He  was  taken  with  a  congestive  chill, 

gave  out  a  hymn,  went  down  the  aisle,  home,  was  taken  to 

the  church  the  next  Sabbath  a  corpse, — one  of  the  most 

sorrowful  days  I  have  ever  seen,  for  I  loved  him  with  my 

whole  soul  and  body.     I  was  his  favorite  child  out  of  nine. 

No  one  ever  knew  it  until  after  his  death,  when  mother  told 

us.     But  I  was  about  the  last  picked  on.     I   was  wild   and 

full  of  vinegar.     I  am  about  worn  out  writing. 

Yours  respectfull}', 

D.  C.  Buchanan. 

P.  S. — I  am  the  oldest  son  now  living.  Alexander,  Wil- 
son and  I  are  the  only  boys  living,  and  two  girls,  Martha 


314  Centennial  Memorial. 

in  Logansport,  and  Maria,  Mrs.  Dr.  Early,  at  Palmyra,  Mis- 
souri. If  I  were  as  well  off  as  1  was  ten  or  twelve  years 
ago,  I  would  come  to  j^our  Centennial,  but  I  am  too  poor  to 
think  of  it. 

Letter  from   Rev.  Joseph  R.   Vance,  D.  D.,  Formerly 
Pastor  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Carlisle,  Pa. 

Chester,  Pa.,  Feb.  6th,  1894,. 
My  Dear  Dr.  Stewart  : 

Your  kind  invitation  to  the  exercises  of  the  100th  anni- 
versary of  the  Market  Square  Church  has  just  been  received. 

Thou  hast  been  brought  to  the  kingdom  at  a  blessed 
time  in  the  history  of  the  grand  old  church. 

In  the  days  when  Paxtang,  Derry  and  Silvers'  Spring 
were  the  chosen  shrines,  it  was  difficult  for  Harrisburg  to 
gain  recognition.  For  thirty  years  and  up  to  the  -dawn  of 
re-union,  good  Dr.  DeWitt  carried  the  flag  of  a  small  New 
School  minority  in  Central  Pennsylvania.  One  half  of  the 
faithful  ministry  of  Dr.  Robinson  was  spent  in  the  little 
Presbytery  of  Harrisburg,  but  there  is  no  "  pent  up  Utica  " 
for  you  and  Market  Square  now.  The  good  old  Presbytery 
of  Carlisle,  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Woman's 
Boards  are  ready  to  second  every  motion  you  make. 

When  in  A.  D.  1894,  we  see  the  junior  Dr.  DeWitt  and 
Dr.  Robinson  the  exponents  of  the  theological  thought  of 
Princeton  and  Allegheny,  we  conclude  that  it  could  not 
have  been  a  very  dangerous  type  of  new  schoolism  after  all, 
and  seeing  you  in  the  van  of  Christian  Endeavor  columns, 
we  say  "  He  well  represents  the  aggressive  spirit  charac- 
teristic of  that  Church.      Like  James  Weir,  he  will  never 


Centennial  Greetings.  315 

grow  old."  May  the  true  consecration  and  determined 
aggressiveness  of  the  past  always  charaterize  the  history  of 
the  church.  Very  fraternally  yours, 

Jos.  R.  Vance. 

Letter   from   Mrs.  Mary   M.  McArthur,  Daughter  of 
THE  late  William  McClean  a  Former  Elder. 
No.  636  N.  Main  Street, 
Meadville,  Pa.,  February  8th,  1894- 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Doll  :  Please  accept  my  thanks  for  your 
kind  favor  received.  How  much  I  wish  I  could  be  present 
and  join  in  the  very  interesting  services  of  the  coming  week. 
It  was  in  that  branch  of  the  church  (of  sacred  memory) 
with  two  elder  brothers,  I  first  made  a  public  profession  of 
my  faith  in  Christ.  Many  pleasant  and  tender  memories 
come  crowding  upon  me  as  I  recall  the  days  of  my  youth 
in  Harrisburg,  of  Christ's  people,  other  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances, of  the  Sabbath-school,  of  my  sainted  parents, 
of  respect  shown  my  father,  the  confidence  in  him,  and 
honor  conferred  in  making  him  an  Elder  in  the  Church  of 
God.  I  remember  well  several  of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen 
whose  names  are  on  the  committee. 

I  shall  be  with  you  in  spirit  as  the  programme  is  being 
carried  out,  praying  that  God's  blessing  may  accompan}^ 
each  meeting,  that  his  people  there  and  elsewhere  in  Har- 
risburg may  especially  feel  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  be  greatly  refreshed  and  strengthened,  and  many  who 
are  still  out  of  Christ  be  brought  to  love  and  serve  him. 
With  love,  Your  friend, 

Mary  ]\I.  McArthur. 


316  Centennial  Memorial. 

Letter  from  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Niccolls,  D.  D.,  formerly 
Pastor  of  Falling  Spring  Church,  Chambersburg. 

St.  Louis,  February  7th,  1894.. 
My  Dear  Brother:  I  have  received  your  invitation  to 
attend  the  One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  Market 
Square  Church.  I  greatly  regret  that  it  will  not  be  possible 
for  me  to  be  present.  The  invitation  revives  so  many 
pleasant  memories  of  Harrisburg,  and  of  my  associations, 
with  the  old  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  that  I  would  like  very 
much  to  be  with  you  on  this  memorable  occasion.  Your 
old  church  has  a  grand  history  and  has  been  a  mighty 
power  for  good  in  the  Cumberland  Valley.  I  know  that  it 
has  a  life  within  it  which  prevents  it  from  becoming  old. 
A  living  church  always  renews  itself  and  laughs  at  Time. 
With  best  wishes,  I  am 

Fraternally  yours, 

Samuel  G.  Niccolls. 

Letter  from  Rev.  Robert  F.  McClean,  Grandson  of  a 
Former  Elder  and  Himself  for  Many  Years  a  Mem- 
ber of  the  Presbytery  op  Carlisle. 

MuNCY,  February  7th,  1894.. 
Rev.  George  B.  Stewart,  D.  D.,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Dear  Brother  :  We  are  grateful  for  the  invitation  to  the 
Centennial  of  your  church,  though  we  will  be  unable  to  be 
present.  I  well  remember  when  a  boy  on  a  visit  to  Harris- 
burg, of  seeing  Dr.  DeWitt,  and  the  then  black-haired  Dr. 
Robinson,  together  in  the  pulpit  of  the  old  church,  and  of 
being  in  Mr.  James  McCormick's  Sunday-school  class  of 
boys.     The  grand  work  and  the  goodly  fellowship  of  the 


Centennial  Greetings.  317 

Market  Square  Church  deserve  commemoration.  The  fact 
of  my  grandfather  being  an  elder,  and  Dr.  Robinson  and 
yourself  such  esteemed  friends  of  ni}'  own  give  me  deep 
personal  interest  in  it. 

Cordially  yours, 

Robert  F.  McClean. 

Many  other  letters  of  congratulation  were  received,  but 
space  is  lacking  for  their  publication.  Among  them  were 
letters  from 

Colonel  John  J.  McCook,  New  York  City. 

Rev.  William  H.  Roberts,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Stated  Clerk  of 
General  Assembly. 

Rev.  William  S.  Van  Cleve,  Gettysburg. 

William  M.  Capp,  M.  D.,  son  of  a  former  Elder,  Phila- 
delphia. 

Rev.  S.  S.  Wylie,  Middle  Spring. 

Mr.  Abram  B.  Knapp,  Elizabeth,  N.  J, 

Mr.  William  J.  Nevius,  Jr.,  South  Orange,  N.  J. 

J.  Bayard  Henry,  Esq.,  Philadelphia. 

Mrs.  Sibyl  Fahnestock  Hubbard,  New  York. 

Mrs,  Mary  Fahnestock  Reid,  Allegheny. 

Rev.  Ezra  A.  Huntington,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Professor  in 
Theological  Seminary,  Auburn. 

Rev.  W.  T.  L.  Kieffer,  Washington,  Pa. 

Miss  Martha  Buchanan,  daughter  of  Rev.  Jas.  Buchanan, 
second  pastor  of  the  church,  Logansport,  Ind. 

John  Curwen,  M.  D.,  Superintendent  of  State  Insane 
Hospital,  Vv^arren,  Pa. 

Ovid  F.  Johnson,  Esq.,  and  sisters,  Philadelphia. 


318  Centennial  Memorial. 

Rev.  Martin  L.  Ganoe,  pastor  Ridge  Avenue  M.  E.  Church 
Harrisburg. 

Geo.  W.  Mehaffie,  General  Secretary  West  Philadelphia 
Branch  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Philadelphia. 

Rev.  Everard  Kempshall,  D.  D.,  pastor  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 

Rev.  J.  Smith  Gordon,  Fannettsburg. 

Geo.  B.  Ayres,  Esq.,  Philadelphia. 

Rev.  Henry  C.  McCook,  D.  D.,  Pastor  Tabernacle  Presby- 
terian Church,  Philadelphia. 

Rev.  William  P.  White,  Financial  Secretary  for  Lincoln 
University,  Germantown,  Pa. 

Judge  Henry  H.  Swan,  of  U.  S.  District  Court,  Detroit, 
Michigan. 

Rev.  Arthur  S.  Hoyt,  D.  D.,  Professor  in  Theological  Sem- 
inary, Auburn,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  Timothy  G.  Darling,  D.  D.,  Professor  in  Theological 
Seminary,  Auburn,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  John  C.  Barr,  Dillsburg,  Pa. 

Mr.  H.  C.  Doll,  Denver,  Col. 

Gen.  James  A.  Beaver,  Bellefonte,  Pa. 

Rev.  Edward  D.  Morris,  D.  D.  LL.  D.,  Professor  in  Lane 
Theological  Seminary,  Cincinnati. 

Rev.  J.  R.  Miller,  D.  D.,  Secretary  of  the  Presbyterian 
Board  of  Publication,  Philadelphia. 

Hon.  Samuel  Gustine  Thompson,  Philadelphia. 

President  Patton,  Princeton  College,  Princeton,  N.  J. 

Rev.  Willis  J.  Beecher,  D.  D.,  Professor  in  Theological 
Seminary,  Auburn,  N.  Y. 


QUE  SECOISTD  OENTUEY. 


It  seemed  fitting  to  the  Committee  on  Publication  that 
this  volume  should  contain  the  first  sermons  of  the  new  cen- 
tury, delivered  in  the  church  on  Sunday,  April  18th,  1894.  It 
therefore  requested  them  from  Dr.  Robinson  and  Dr.  Stewart 
for  such  publication.  By  request  of  the  minister,  Rev.  Dr. 
Robinson  assisted  him  in  the  morning  service  and  preached. 
He  chose  for  his  theme,  "  Characteristics  of  a  True  Pastor 
and  a  True  Church."  In  the  evening  the  minister  preach- 
ed upon  the  theme,  "  The  Duty  of  Our  Second  Century." 
The  usual  order  of  service  was  observed  on  both  occasions, 
and  large  audiences  were  present.  Thus  happil}^  was  the 
new  century  begun,  with  a  deep  sense  of  gratitude  for  the 
blessings  received  and  an  abiding  consciousness  of  the  ever- 
present  duties  of  discipleship. 


CHARACTERISTICS   OF   A   TRUE   PASTOR   AND   A 
TRUE  CHURCH. 


By  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  D.  D. 


Before  I  enter  upon  the  subject  of  the  morning  I  wish  to 
say  a  word  about  the  week  that  has  just  closed.  It  is  a 
word  of  congratulation.  The  week  has  been  a  happy  and 
most  successful  one.  I  rejoice  in  j^our  unity  and  christian 
love.  I  rejoice  in  your  brotherhood  with  all  the  Churches 
about  you.  I  rejoice  in  the  outlook  for  the  coming  years. 
I  have  been  looking  with  gladness  on  the  young  faces  that 
are  to  stand  in  your  lot  in  the  years  to  come.  Perhaps 
some  may  feel  that  a  great  deal  has  been  said  a^bout  the 
Scotch-Irish  and  Presbyterianism  ;  too  much  it  may  be. 
Let  us  now  submerge  them.  They  are  worth  nothing  save 
as  they  are  Christian,  Apart  from  Christ  they  are  but 
worthless  dust.  The  best  and  deepest  thing  in  us  is  not 
ancestral  blood,  nor  Presbyterian  orthodoxy,  but  christian 
faith  and  life.  In  the  vocabulary  of  Heaven,  the  words 
Scotch-Irish  and  Presbyterianism  will  not  be  found.  There 
are  no  Scotch-Irish  nor  Presbyterians — as  such  in  the 
glorious  City  of  the  Skies.  Nationalities  and  denominations 
find  no  home  there.  Let  us  count  it  to  be  our  chiefest 
glory  now,  as  it  will  be  then,  to  be  simply  the  followers  of 
Christ  and  the  Children  of  God. 


Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.  321 

Philiiypians  iv.  1-7. 

Wherefore,  my  brethren,  beloved  and  longed  for,  my  joy  and  crown, 
so  stand  fast  in  the  Lord,  my  beloved. 

I  exhort  Euodia,  and  I  exhort  Syntyche  to  be  of  the  same  mind  in 
the  Lord.  Yea,  I  beseech  thee  also,  true  yokefellow,  help  these 
women,  for  they  labor  with  me  in  the  Gospel,  with  Clement  also  and 
the  rest  of  my  fellow-workers,  whose  names  are  in  the  book  of  life. 
Rejoice  in  the  Lord  alway  :  again  I  will  say,  Rejoice.  Let  your  for- 
bearance be  known  unto  all  men.  The  Lord  is  at  hand.  In  nothing 
be  anxious ;  but  in  everything  by  prayer  and  supplication  with 
thanksgiving  let  your  requests  be  made  known  unto  God.  And  the 
peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  understanding  shall  guard  your  hearts 
and  your  thoughts  in  Christ  Jesus. 

It  was  a  very  human  and  natural  thing  that  as  Paul 
drew  near  to  the  close  of  his  letter  to  the  Church  at 
Philippi,  he  should  indulge  in  some  direct  personal  refer- 
ences. We  do  the  same  thing  in  our  letters  of  to-day.  We 
send  messages  to  one  and  another  of  the  absent  friends. 
We  recall  by  name  the  members  of  the  household. 

The  main  burden  of  the  Apostle's  thought  in  the  Epistle 
is  uttered  and  he  is  drawing  to  the  end.  The  Good  63^6  is 
about  to  be  written.  The  faces  of  the  absent  ones  come 
before  him,  and  it  is  very  natural  that  before  he  lays  down 
the  pen  he  should  add  some  closing  admonitions,  exhorta- 
tions and  messages.  They  are  brief  and  pithy.  The  weight 
of  thought  and  feeling  that  was  upon  him  in  the  main 
body  of  the  letter  is  cast  off,  and  he  comes  out  more  the 
man  than  the  great  Apostle.  We  get  at  his  heart  and  find 
how  human  he  is. 

These  closing  sentences  may  seem  to  be  fragmentary  and 
unconnected,  and  the  Apostle  may  seem  to  be  writing  now 
just  what  occurs  to  him.     He  is  not  deeply  thinking.     Yet 


322  Centennial  Memorial. 

I  think  we  shall  find  his  words  are  not  quite  fragmentary. 
They  are  not  written  at  random.  A  definite  line  of  thought 
underlies  what  he  now  says.  The  earlier  part  of  the  letter 
shapes  the  close  of  it. 

It  is  so  with  ourselves.  Letters  of  business,  letters  of 
friendship,  letters  of  consolation  and  letters  of  family  love, 
all  have  their  own  and  their  appropriate  ending. 

Paul  was  writing  to  one  of  the  churches  that  he  had 
founded  and  to  which  he  clung  with  tenacious  affection. 
He  had  been  pouring  out  his  soul  on  the  subject  of  the  true 
Christian  life.  He  had  revealed  the  deep  sources  from 
which  it  springs,  the  great  channels  in  which  it  runs,  and 
the  conditions  which  surround  it  in  this  w^orld,  with  its 
glorious  attainments  in  the  world  to  come. 

But  still  he  remembers  we  are  here,  not  there.  We 
are  amid  the  petty  details  of  human  life  on  earth.  -  Earthly 
things  still  have  their  strong  hold  upon  us.  These  Christians 
at  Philippi  were  human  and  weak.  They  were  amid  temp- 
tations. They  were  at  the  mercy  of  a  great  multitude  of 
trivial  and  daily  things  that  must  be  attended  to.  How 
could  they  keep  the  grand  music  of  the  Gospel,  the  sublime, 
uplifting  anthems  of  the  life  eternal  sounding  in  their  souls 
amid  the  patter  and  stir  and  noise  of  a  busy  life  amid  earthly 
things ! 

Paul  comes  down  to  the  case.  In  doing  so  he  reveals  to 
us  some  characteristics  of  a  true  pastor,  and  also  some  char- 
acteristics of  a  true  church.  Allow  me  to  draw  your  minds 
along  these  two  lines  of  thought. 

I.  The  True  Pastor. 

The  apostle  brings  out,  unconsciously,  one  element  in  the 


Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.  323 

character  of  every  true  pastor.  Unconsciously,  I  say,,  for  he 
was  not  displaying  and  eulogizing  himself. 

He  simply  tells,  in  his  own  experience,  how  the  members 
of  a  church  should  be  esteemed  by  a  true  pastor.  They 
should  have  the  deepest,  tenderest  love,  and  the  strongest 
and  heartiest  good  wishes  of  the  pastor.  Listen  to  the 
words  of  Paul,  this  man  whom  many  only  think  of  as  a 
great  theologian  and  the  massive  thinker  of  the  church, 
and  so  absorbed  in  the  grandeur  of  his  thoughts  as  to  be 
above  the  ordinary  affections  of  men.  Paul's  heart  was  as 
great  as  his  intellect.  Note  how  he  addresses  these  Christians 
of  Philippi: 

"  Therefore,  my  brethren,  dearly  beloved  and  longed  for, 
my  joy  and  my  crown,  so  stand  fast  in  the  Lord,  my  dearly 
beloved.'  What  an  accumulation  of  strong  epithets  of  af- 
fection are  here.  "  Longed  for."  It  was  the  yearning  of  a 
great,  strong  man.  "My  joy."  The  source  of  his  joy  was 
not  in  his  apostleship,  in  his  miraculous  powers,  in  his 
grand  acquirements,  in  his  enlarging  fame  through  all  the 
churches.  It  was  in  those  who  had  been  converted  to 
God  under  his  ministry;  in  the  beauty  of  their  life  and 
their  loyalty  to  Jesus  Christ.  Our  joy  is  in  our  homes  and 
in  our  friends.  The  chief  happiness  of  a  true  pastor  is  in 
the  pure  and  Christlike  lives  of  the  people  to  whom  he 
ministers. 

"  My  Crown  "  adds  the  Apostle.  He  means  that  he  prided 
himself  in  them.  He  gloried  in  them.  It  is  not  in  these 
passages  alone  that  St.  Paul  reveals  his  feelings  for  the 
people  among  whom  he  labored.  It  may  be  traced  in  all 
his  letters.     Elsewhere  he  writes.     "  Mv  little  children,  for 


324  Centennial  Memorial. 

whom  I  travail  in  birth  till  Christ  be  formed  in  your  hearts." 
And  again — I  ceased  not  to  warn  every  one  of  you  day  and 
night  with  tears — "  we  were  gentle  among  you  even  as  a 
nurse  cherisheth  her  children."  "We  were  willing  to  have 
imparted  unto  you  not  the  Gospel  of  God  only,  but  also  our 
own  soul  because  you  were  very  dear  unto  us."  We  think 
of  Paul  usually,  as  the  stern  reprover,  the  dauntless  hero, 
the  uncompromising  champion  of  truth,  the  incomparable 
theologian,  but  there  were  in  his  soul  great  fountains  of 
love  and  tenderness.  Men  who  knew  him  loved  him.  They 
fell  on  his  neck  and  .kissed  him.  In  his  gentleness  lay 
much  of  his  power. 

There  are  preachers  who  pride  themselves  on  being  "faith- 
ful", in  preaching  the  whole  truth,  in  telling  the  people 
their  sins.  They  are  decided,  they  are  heroic,  they  are 
scathing  in  denunciations  of  evil,  they  bear  their -testimony 
whether  men  will  hear  or  forbear  against  popular  evils. 
But  there  is  a  hardness  in  their  tones,  and  a  harshness  in 
their  manner,  a  self  sufficiency  and  lack  of  sympathy  that 
make  their  ministry  offensive. 

The  mainspring  of  the  Gospel  is  the  spirit  of  love.  The 
mission  of  the  preacher  is  a  delicate  one.  While  he  is  to 
preach  the  truth,  and  all  the  truth,  he  is  ever  to  speak  it  in 
love,  never  in  haste,  never  in  scorn,  never  in  indifference.  He 
is  to  be  filled  with  enthusiasm  of  humanity,  a  deep,  true, 
broad  love  of  man  as  man.  Like  his  great  Master  he  is  to 
be  a  philanthropist — a  lover  of  his  kind.  Narrowness,  bigotry, 
prejudice,  sectarianism  should  never  find  a  home  in  his 
soul.  Love  should  look  through  his  candid,  earnest, 
solemn  eye.     It  should  gleam  in  every  line  of  his  counten- 


Sermon  of  Rev.  Tlwinas  H.  Robinson.  325 

ance.  It  should  be  heard  in  the  intonations  of  his  voice. 
His  speech  is  always  to  be  evangelical.  He  is  the  bringer 
of  glad  tidings.  He  jDroclaims  the  love  of  God  to  men.  He 
speaks  of  boundless  mercy.  He  tells  of  the  love  of  the  In- 
carnate God,  of  a  love  that  was  stronger  than  humiliation 
and  pain.  Stronger  than  shame  and  death — a  love  divine 
that  bled  for  rebellious  man.  A  love  that  knows  no  depth 
of  sin  that  it  cannot  reach,  no  path  of  woe  that  it  cannot 
travel,  no  foulness  of  the  creature  that  it  would  not  heal 
with  tender  touch.  He  tells  of  a  love  that  opens  a  world  of 
endless  glor}'  and  happiness  to  the  undeserving  and  guilty. 
The  man  who  preaches  such  a  gospel,  must  have  the 
spirit  of  love  in  every  fibre  of  his  being.  Harshness,  im- 
patience, hoarse  thunderings,  are  foreign  to  the  true 
preacher.  See  what  he  has  to  do.  He  has  to  unveil  to 
hard  hearted  men  the  tender  fatherhood  of  God.  He  has 
to  make  them  see  the  longing  brotherhood  of  a  Divine 
Saviour.  He  has  to  come  to  men  in  all  their  moods,  their 
sins,  their  wants,  as  the  representative  of  Him  who  tasted 
death  for  every  man.  He  has  to  hear  the  heart's  secrets  of 
men  in  distress  over  their  sins.  He  has  to  be  present  in 
human  homes  in  the  sacred  hour  of  sorrow  and  speak  in 
Christ's  name.  He  has  to  be  God's  messenger  of  comfort  to 
the  desolate  and  broken-hearted,  to  stand  by  the  bedside  of 
dying  saints  and  dying  sinners,  and  tell  each  one  of  the 
Lamb  of  God  who  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world.  He 
has  to  go  where  other  men  would  be  counted  as  intruders, 
into  the  deep  and  secret  places  of  human  woe,  where  mothers 
are  clinging  to  their  dead  children — where  grief  is  too  deep 


326  Centennial  Memorial. 

for  tears,  and  there  bring  the  consolations  of  our  divine 
faith. 

How  vain  for  any  one  to  fill  such  an  office  whose  heart  is 
not  delicate  and  sensitive  under  the  refining  power  of  real 
love.  It  is  not  sentimental  weakness  for  which  I  plead. 
Paul  was  no  sentimental  weakling.  He  was  a  great,  strong^ 
brave,  intellectual  man — a  very  giant  of  a  man.  He  knew 
what  it  was  to  argue  with  the  wits  and  wise  men  of  the 
world ;  what  it  was  to  stand  before  kings ;  what  it  was  to  be 
scourged  and  beaten  with  rods  and  to  die  daily.  He  was  a 
man,  a  great,  strong  man  everywhere.  But  the  heart 
within  him  was  a  great,  strong,  broad  heart,  and  it  throbbed 
and  beat  as  did  the  heart  of  the  Master  for  men,  for  men 
everywhere.  His  words  of  endearment  are  not  words  of 
weakness  but  of  strength.  He  looked  upon  men  every- 
where as  given  to  him  that  he  might  win  them  for  Christ, 
or  keep  them  for  Christ.  His  joys  and  his  sorrows  were 
connected  with  them.  He  was  glad  over  them,  or  he  grieved 
over  them.  He  was  never  cold,  never  austere,  never  harsh. 
He  was  a  true  preacher. 

n.  The  apostle  also  gives  us  some  of  the  characteristics  of 
a  True  Church. 

If  the  pastor,  like  the  Chief  Pastor,  the  great  and  good 
Shepherd  of  the  Flock,  must  have  a  loving  nature,  surely 
the  disciples,  the  members  of  the  church,  must  possess  a 
lovable  character.  If  he  is  among  a  people  who  are  morally 
unlovable  and  unattractive,  how  can  he  be  expected  to  pour 
out  his  affections  upon  them?  The  true  church  will  be  re- 
sponsive. It  will  return  love  for  love.  It  will  display  the 
winning  graces  and  qualities  of  Christly  character. 


Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.  327 

These  qualities  of  character  in  the  members  of  a  true 
Church  are  brought  out  by  the  Apostle  in  three  aspects : 

1.  What  the  members  of  a  true  Church  are  to  each  other. 

2.  What  they  are  in  themselves. 

3.  What  they  are  towards  God. 

I.  What  the  members  of  a  genuine  Church  are  to  each 
other. 

They  are  bound  in  spiritual  unity.  "I  entreat  Euodia  and 
I  entreat  Syntyche  to  be  of  the  same  mind  in  the  Lord." 
Two  of  the  christian  women  of  the  Church  at  Philippi, 
women  who,  Paul  says,  had  labored  with  him  and  with  each 
other  in  the  Lord,  were  unhappily  at  variance.  We  know 
nothing  about  the  cause  of  the  trouble.  Paul  gives  no  hints. 
He  takes  neither  side  in  the  alienation.  One  thing  fills  his 
mind.  They  must  be  reconciled.  It  may  seem  too  little  a 
thing  to  claim  the  attention  and  grieve  the  heart  of  the  great 
Apostle.  It  may  have  been  a  thing  of  the  commonest  kind. 
It  serves  Paul  as  an  illustration  of  how  liable  believing 
and  loving  lives  are  to  be  swayed  and  marred,  and  so  to 
mar  the  beauty  and  weaken  the  power  of  a  Church.  The 
Church  lives  and  speaks  in  all  its  members.  It  is  one 
body.  It  must  be  sound  and  whole  and  harmonious  in  all 
its  parts.  There  must  be  no  schism  in  the  body.  Little 
grievances  grow  into  great  magnitude.  In  feeling,  in 
friendship,  in  action,  the  genuine  Church  must  be  one.  All 
hearts  must  beat  in  unison.  There  must  be  no  discords  in 
the  music  of  the  Church.  All  outward  life,  all  intercourse 
with  each  other,  our  common  labors,  must  all  keep  touch 
with  the  spring  and  source  of  our  spiritual  life.  We  must 
keep  together  in  our  Common  Lord.    In  his  glowing  presence 


328  Centennial  Memorial. 

of  tenderness  and  love  all  alienations  must  disappear. 
Unity — unity  of  affection,  of  sentiment,  of  aim,  is  the  law  for 
the  genuine  Church.  In  Him,  in  the  glorified  Christ,  whose 
earthly  struggles  and  sufferings  were  met  for  each,  the 
members  of  the  Church  should  be  now  and  forever  united. 

The  members  of  the  genuine  church  are  mutually  helpful. 

"  I  entreat  thee,  also,  true  yoke-fellow,  help  these  women 
who  labored  with  me  in  the  Gospel,  with  Clement,  also,  and 
the  rest  of  my  fellow-workers." 

Who  this  true  yoke-fellow  was  no  one  knows.  It  does 
not  matter.  Who  these  other  "  fellow-workers  "  were,  no 
one  knows.  It  matters  not.  In  a  genuine  church  all  are 
fellow-workers,  all  are  true  "yoke-fellows."  The  church  is 
a  loving  workshop.  All  bear  the  yoke  of  service.  One  is 
the  Master,  even  Christ.  The  law  of  mutual  co-operation 
prevails.  "Bear  ye  one  another's  burdens,  and  so  fulfill 
the  law  of  Christ." 

For  ever}^  one  who  has  begun  to  follow  Christ  there  is  no 
other  place  but  the  Church  of  Christ.  He  belongs  there  as 
much  as  a  soldier  to  an  army;  just  as  much  as  a  child  be- 
longs in  his  father's  house.  He  is  out  of  his  place  if  he  is 
outside  the  church.     He  has  no  right  to  be  outside. 

And  when  he  takes  his  place  in  the  church  he  has  no 
right  to  be  an  idler,  to  sit  down  and  take  his  ease.  "  Lord 
what  wilt  Thou  have  me  to  do?"  is  the  primal  question  of 
every  genuine  Christian  ;  consecration  to  service,  putting  on 
the  yoke,  is  a  universal  law.  Then  comes  working  in  har- 
mony. Yoke-fellows  we  are.  It  is  a  grand,  good  word.  It 
tells  of  helpfulness.  We  pull  together  in  rolling  the  car  of 
salvation.     We   have   entered   into  a   hoi}'  alliance.     God 


Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robh^son.  329 

in  his  almighty  love,  bids  us  love,  and  help,  and  serve  and 
bless  each  other.  The  old  fable  of  the  blind  man  and  the 
cripple  is  realized  every  day  in  the  true  church.  The  blind 
man  carries  the  cripple  on  his  shoulders,  and  the  cripple 
becomes  eyes  to  the  blind  man. 

"Heaven  fomning  each  on  other  to  depend, 
A  master,  or  a  servant,  or  a  friend, 
Bids  each  on  other  for  assistance  call, 
Till  one  man's  weakness  grows  the  strength  of  all."' 

The  members  of  the  genuine  church  are  mutually  consid- 
erate. To  these  fellow-workers  at  Philippi  Paul  writes, 
"  Let  your  moderation  be  known  unto  all  men.  The  word 
meant  forbearance — consideration — the  state  of  mind  that 
does  not  overrate  our  own  worth  and  our  own  plans,  nor 
insist  on  having  our  own  will.  Let  every  man  look  on  the 
things  of  others,  Paul  elsewhere  says.  The  true  church  is 
filled  with  magnanimous  Christians — large-hearted,  broad- 
minded  men  and  women.  They  are  patient  toward  weak- 
ness, charitable  towards  the  erring,  gentle  and  forbearing 
towards  the  sinful.  The  natural  selfishness  and  impetuosity 
of  the  human  heart  has  been  subdued  b}^  the  unseen  pres- 
ence and  influence  of  Christ.  A  great  vision  of  faith  keeps 
the  serene  and  loving  Master  near — a  vision  that  calms  the 
human  passion  and  brings  the  soul  into  a  happy  order.  It 
can  now  "believe  all  things,  endure  all  things,  hope  all 
things."  Christ  seen,  felt,  rejoiced  in  as  personal  friend 
and  Saviour,  will  make  the  members  of  the  church  for- 
bearing, considerate,  gentle  to  all  men.  A  true,  large- 
hearted  Christian  is  unselfish.     He  does  not  stand  on   his 


330  Centennial  Memorial. 

strict  rights.  He  is  not  punctilious  over  trifles.  He  imitates 
the  large  generousness  of  Jesus  Christ. 

n.  The  Apostle  tells  us  what  the  members  of  a  true 
Church  are  in  themselves.     He  mentions  two  characteristics. 

1.  The  first  is  that  of  Loyalty  to  Christ.  "They  stand 
fast  in  the  Lord."  We  cannot  stand  fast  against  the  forces 
of  this  world's  evil,  we  cannot  stand  fast  in  our  spiritual  en- 
counters with  flesh  and  blood,  with  the  principalities  and 
powers  of  darkness,  we  cannot  stand  fast  in  charity  and 
helpfulness  toward  all  our  christian  brethren,  we  cannot 
stand  fast  in  large-hearted  love  for  all  our  fellow-men — in 
ourselves  and  by  our  own  strength. 

We  must  find  our  inspiration  in  Jesus  Christ.  Our  firm- 
ness must  come  from  being  rooted  in  Him.  We  must  have 
unshaken  convictions  about  Him.  We  must  have  an 
everlastingly  settled  love  towards  Him — "rooted  and  ground- 
ed" "steadfast  and  immovable"  in  our  faith  and  love.towards 
Him.  It  gives  our  weakness  heroic  strength  when  we  keep 
our  hold  on  Christ.  It  kindles  our  cold  hearts  with  the 
fires  of  a  divine  enthusiasm  when  we  keep  close  in  touch 
with  Jesus  Christ.  It  will  sustain  our  courage,  our  forti- 
tude, our  constancy  amid  all  perils  and  disappointments, 
amid  every  whirlwind  of  doubts  and  fears,  if  we  keep  up 
our  fellowship  with  Christ.  He  is  the  vine,  we  are  the 
branches.  Apart  from  Him  we  can  do  nothing.  United  to 
Him  we  can  join  Paul  in  his  word  of  triumph  "I  can  do  all 
things  through  Christ  that  strengtheneth  me."  Inspired 
with  the  life  of  Christ,  living  day  by  day  in  the  light  of 
Christ,  happy  in  the  love  of  Christ,  glad  to  bear  the  easy 
yoke  of  Christ,  we  shall  be  able  to  stand.     The  fires  of  his 


Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.  331 

love  for  mankind  will  burn  in  all  our  hearts.  We  shall 
look  out  on  men  with  his  generous  pity  and  brotherly 
affection.  The  miseries  and  sins  of  the  confederated  millions 
of  the  human  race  will  not  appal  us  ;  the  troubles  that  assail 
the  Church  will  not  terrify  us,  for  being  one  with  Him,  we 
are  greater  than  we  thought  ourselves  to  be.  His  victory  is 
ours. 

2.  One  thing  more,  for  I  must  leave  a  large  part  of  my 
subject  untouched. 

A  true  Church  will  be  full  of  religious  joy.    • 

This  letter  to  the  Philippians  is  like  an  anthem  that  has 
running  through  it  from  beginning  to  end  a  melody — a 
strain  of  music.  Again  and  again  you  catch  the  notes  of 
the  sweet  strain  until  as  you  listen,  you  wait  for  its  recurrence 
and  find  that  the  whole  anthem  is  built  upon  it.  The  un- 
dertone of  this  letter  to  the  Philippians  is  Christian  Glad- 
ness. 

At  the  opening  of  the  third  chapter  Paul  had  said: 
''Finally,  my  brethren  rejoice  in  the  Lord."  Rejoice,  be  of 
good  cheer,  was  the  usual  farew^ell  salute  of  the  early 
christians.  It  was  the  last,  best  word.  It  was  the  summing 
of  the  religious  life.  It  best  expressed  the  fulness  of  its 
meaning — Rejoice,  it  is  the  kej^note  of  our  faith.  It  is  a 
strain,  the  undertone  of  our  christian  anthem.  And  so 
here,  as  Paul  draws  nearer  to  the  end  of  his  letter  he  re- 
sumes the  melody  :  "Rejoice  in  the  Lord  always.  Again 
I  will  say  it.     Rejoice." 

Be  happy  in  your  religion,  be  happy  in  your  great  Sa- 
viour and  Friend,  is  a  divine  command.  Happiness  is  an 
essential  element  in  genuine  religion.      Happiness  is  not 


■332  Centennial  Memorial. 

•only  a  privilege  of  the  disciples  of  Christ,  but  a  duty.  It 
would  seem  as  if  it  was  as  wrong  for  a  Christian  to  be  un- 
happy as  to  break  any  of  the  ten  commandments.  The 
command  to  rejoice  is  founded  on  the  same  authority  as 
^'Thou  shalt  not  steal."  It  is  repeated  a  hundred  times 
more  frequently. 

Is  joy  possible  ?  Is  perpetual  joy  possible?  Rejoice,  re- 
joice in  the  Lord  always;  again  I  will  say,  rejoice!  Old 
Testament  believers  were  frequently  exhorted  to  rejoice  in 
the  Lord  Jehovah.  New  Testament  believers  are  bidden  to 
rejoice  in  the  Lord — the  Lord  Jesus — God  incarnate,  God 
revealed.  It  is  the  necessary  inference  from  their  knowl- 
edge of  Him,  their  belief  in  his  being,  character  and  work 
that  they  should  rejoice  in  Him.  If  this  Lord  Jesus  be 
what  Christians  believe  Him  to  be,  then  there  is  a  thousand- 
fold more  in  Him  to  make  them  glad  than  there  is  in  all 
the  rest  of  the  universe  to  make  them  sad.  Christians  ought 
to  be  always  the  happiest  beings  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 
Despite  their  trials  and  troubles,  despite  their  very  sins, 
they  ought  to  be.  Joy  is  the  logical  outcome  of  true  religion. 
The  church  should  be  the  home  of  irresistible  happiness. 

But  note  it  well,  Christian  joy  is  not  joy  in  any  form  of 
mere  earthly  good,  the  things  that  make  up  the  world's 
happiness  ;  nor  is  it  joy  in  our  own  sure  hopes  of  heaven  as 
forgiven  and  saved  men — it  is  joy  in  a  person — in  the  Lord 
Jesus. 

This  means  two  things.  It  means  first,  that  we  have 
learned  to  believe.  We  are  the  children  of  a  fixed  and 
positive  faith.  The  greatest,  the  central  object  of  our  faith 
is  Jesus  Christ.     We  have  a  vivid  sense  of  the  reality  of 


Sermon  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson.  333^ 

Christ.  We  are  in  no  region  of  mist  and  doubt,  but  one- 
rather  of  certainty.  It  means  that  our  minds  work  in  refer- 
ence to  Christ,  just  as  they  do  in  reference  to  the  things  and 
persons  about  us,  which  are  felt  and  known  to  be  real  persons- 
and  things.  We  do  not  doubt  their  reality;  we  see  them;, 
our  hands  touch  them ;  we  hear  them,  converse  with  them^ 
deal  with  tliem  in  a  real, substantial  way.  So  stands  Christ  to 
us.  He  is  real;  He  is  living;  He  is  our  living  brother.  It 
matters  not  that  to  the  dull  eye  of  sense  He  is  invisible. 
Faith  sees  him.  Faith  has  full,  free  play  in  our  souls  as  it 
turns  to  Him.  It  sees  Him  to  be  divine;  it  sees  Him  to  be 
the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world;  it 
sees  Him  to  be  the  invisible  Ruler  watching  over  and  guid- 
ing all  our  affairs;  it  sees  Him  to  be  the  great  Advocate,, 
who  in  heaven  pleads  for  us  in  all  trouble  and  danger;  it. 
sees  Him  to  be  the  unfailing  and  almighty  Friend,  ready  at 
all  times  to  do  us  kindly  service;  it  sees  Him  to  be  our 
ascended  human  Brother,  who  is  preparing  for  the  home- 
coming of  all  the  members  of  the  family.  It  is  the  grand 
privilege  of  the  Christian  to  have  a  faith  about  Christ;, 
strong,  clear  and  realizing,  no  wavering,  changeful  and 
frightened  thing,  but  a  thing  of  deepest  convictions ;  a  trust 
utter,  unmovable,  eternal,  so  that  we  may  repeat  the  word& 
of  olden  time,  "  We  believe  and  are  sure  that  Thou  art  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God." 

This  joy  in  Christ  means  another  thing.  We  have  learned 
to  speak  a  second  great  word.  That  word  is  Love.  Whom 
having  not  seen  ye  love.  "Lord,  Thou  k  no  west  all  things. 
Thou  knowest  that  I  love  Thee." 

When  Christ  is  realized  to  be  what  He  is,  love  has  no» 


334  Centennial  Memorial. 

difficulty.  It  leaps  into  being;  it  finds  in  Him  all  that  it 
wants.  In  all  earthly  love  there  is  need  of  caution,  measure- 
ment and  restraint.  We  cannot  give  ourselves  up  utterl}'' 
to  any  human  thing  or  human  being.  The}^  have  weak- 
nesses. There  are  spots,  flecks  and  shadows  about  the  best 
and  strongest  of  earth. 

But  there  is  no  defect,  no  shadow,  no  stain  about  Jesus 
Christ.  The  perfection  of  humanity  and  the  glory  of 
divinity  are  His.  We  may  love  Him  utterly  and  without 
reserve.     He  will  meet  it  all,  answer  it  all,  satisfy  it  all. 

Now  comes  joy.  When  through  our  deepest  soul  the 
conviction  makes  its  way,  of  the  realit}''  of  Christ,  that  He  is 
divine,  good,  almighty;  and  that  He  is  for  me  a  friend,  a 
saviour  for  me,  and  the  soul  surrenders  to  it  all  thoroughly; 
then  love  is  born,  and  gladness  flows  through  the  whole 
being. 

A  firm  faith  and  a  hearty  love — without  any  happiness? 
Impossible.  The  believing,  loving  soul  must  be  a  happy 
soul.  The  believing,  loving  church  must  be  a  hajjp}^ 
church.  The  man  who  believes  and  loves  Christ,  as  he 
ought,  as  he  may,  has  in  him  the  seed  and  the  principle  of 
s,  grand  uplifting  power  of  rejoicing.  He  cannot  help  him- 
self. He  must  rejoice.  He  must  be  happy.  It  is  a  blessed 
necessity  that  compels  ever}^  one  who  is  in  Christ  by  faith 
and  love  to  be  happy  in  Him. 

Many  in  the  world  about  us,  many  who  stand  high  among 
the  scholars  and  great  men  of  the  age  give  their  sad 
answer  to  the  question,  Is  this  life  worth  living?  They  are 
pessimists.  They  see  the  heavy  yoke  that  is  on  the  sons  of 
Adam.     They  note  the  weary  and  tragic  sides  of  human 


k^ermon  of  Rev.  TJiomas  H.  Robinson.  335 

history,  the  mystery,  the  bewildering  evil,  the  want  and  woe. 
They  are  the  malcontents,  the  disappointed,  the  suicides,  for 
whom  death  is  an  escape  from  tedium  or  misery.  They 
have  lost  their  hold  on  faith  and  the  unseen.  They  have 
failed  to  put  God  in  the  center  of  their  lives  and  have 
exiled  themselves  from  Christ.  They  have  not  tasted  the 
good  word  of  God,  nor  learned  what  it  is  to  have  life  by 
believing  in  the  Son  of  God,  incarnate,  crucified,  risen, 
enthroned,  and  so  they  know  nothing  of  that  peace  of  God 
that  swept  away  all  the  vexations  of  this  mortal  life. 

Followers  of  the  risen  and  glorified  Christ,  you  ought  to 
rejoice.  If  any  in  the  world  have  a  light  to  rejoice,  it  is  you. 
You  ought  to  be  the  happiest  beings  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 
If  you  are  sad  and  gloomy  Christians,  you  should  be  filled 
with  shame  because  of  it.  Believing  in  such  a  Saviour  as  you 
have,  accepting  Him  as  your  eternal  friend,  accepted  by  Him, 
loved  b}^  Him,  cared  for  b}^  Him,  it  is  a  sin  in  you  not  to  be 
happy  all  the  day  long.  The  world  should  see  it  beaming 
in  your  faces.  The  flags  of  joy  should  wave  over  every 
assembly  of  Christ's  friends.  He  is  worthy  to  be  rejoiced  in. 
**  Rejoice  in  the  Lord  alway,"  again  I  will  say,  rejoice. 


THE  DUTY  OF  OUR  SECOND  CENTURY. 


By  George  B.  Stewart,  Minister. 


Psalms  16:6. 
The  lines  are  fallen  unto  me  in  pleasant  places ;   Yea,  I  have- a 
goodly  heritage. 

The  events  of  the  past  week  have  brought  to  our  attention 
in  an  emphatic  and  delightful  wa}^  God's  exceeding  goodness 
to  this  congregation,  the  honor  and  the  power  which  he  has 
been  pleased  to  bestow  upon  us.  In  view  of  the  glorious 
past  and  the  exalted  present,  every  one  of  us  is  inspired  to 
make  the  words  of  the  Psalmist  our  own:  "The  lines  are 
fallen  unto  me  in  pleasant  places;  Yea,  I  have'a  goodly 
heritage."  We  have  been  encouraged  to  retrospection — 
"looking  backward"  over  the  century  of  history  in  which 
many  of  us  have  borne  some  part,  and  in  which  this  Church 
has  had  multiplied  evidence  of  the  divine  presence  and 
guidance.  The  last  week  has  been  one  of  unalloyed  delight, 
of  inspiration,  of  sincere  thanksgiving. 

The  history  of  a  hundred  years  has  been  no  mean  story. 
The  struggles,  the  labors,  the  trials,  the  successes  of  the 
century  have  been  rehearsed  with  mingled  feelings  of  grati- 
tude to  our  heavenly  Father,  and  of  legitimate  admiration 
for  our  noble  ancestors.  Those  who  have  gone  before  us 
bore  a  praiseworthy  part  in  the  establishment  of  the  kingdom 
of  Christ  in  this  community.  They  were  not  faultless,  but 
thev  were  God's  own ;  and  they  wrought  well  and  nobly  in 


Sermon  of  Rev.  George  B.  Steiuart.  337 

his  name.  They  have  left  to  us  a  precious  legacy  in  a  good 
reputation.  We  are  happier  than  ever  in  being  identified 
with  a  Church  whose  name  is  honored  in  this  community, 
and  throughout  the  world.  We  have  come  into  a  goodly 
fellowship  and  we  know  better  now  than  ever  how  priceless 
is  our  inheritance  in  this  congregation. 

Grateful  as  we  are  for  the  past,  happy  as  we  are  for  the 
memory  of  it,  we  nevertheless  must  turn  from  it.  Centenary 
anniversaries  are  delightful  occasions.  It  would  not  be 
surprising  if  we  were  disposed  to  say  in  the  language  of  the 
old  hymn : 

'•  My  willing'  soul  would  stay 

In  such  a  frame  as  this, 
And  sit  and  sing  herself  away 

To  everlasting  bliss." 

But  that  we  cannot  do.  We  cannot,  we  must  not,  tarry 
in  these  delightful  fields  of  memory.  It  is  our  duty  to  raise 
our  Ebenezer,  to  put  up  our  monument  to  the  glory  of  God 
and  the  praise  of  his  servants,  and  then  pass  on.  Duty 
beckons  us  to  new  labors,  trials  and  achievements. 

The  Duty  of  Our  Second  Century. 

I.  Our  duty  stated  broadly. 

It  is  impossible  within  the  .Mmits  of  a  single  discourse  to 
particularize  all  the  duty  that  devolves  upon  us  as  disciples 
of  Chri'st,  as  a  congregation  of  his  people.  I  can  only  hope 
at  this  time  to  draw  your  attention  to  certain  duties  which 
are  emphasized  by  the  occasion.  Our  feet  are  standing 
upon  the  threshhold  of  a  new  century.  Our  faces  are 
turned  toward  the  dawn  of  another  hundred  years.     We 


338  Centennial  Memorial. 

have  been  looking  over  our  possessions,  examining  our 
inheritance,  rejoicing  in  the  large  accumulations  of  the  past 
which  are  now  ours,  andwe  are  sensible  of  the  responsibilit}'' 
which  wealth  always  brings. 

Truly  the  lines  are  fallen  unto  us  in  pleasant  places,  and. 
we  have  a  goodly  heritage.  We  must  not  be  unmindful 
that  the  Psalmist  used  this  expression  with  reference  to 
Jehovah.  "The  Lord  is  the  portion  of  mine  inheritance, 
and  my  cup;  thou  maintainest  my  lot."  Jehovah  is  his 
God,  is  to  him  the  sum  of  all  good.  In  the  words  of  Paul, 
the  great  apostle,  "All  things  are  yours,  and  ye  are  Christ's, 
and  Christ  is  God's."  From  our  Jehovah  comes  all  the 
blessing,  all  the  treasure,  all  the  honor.  He  always  remains 
ours.  Things  may  pass  away,  the  portion  of  our  lot  may 
grow  smaller  and  smaller,  the  generations  may  move  on  and 
disappear,  but  he  remains  the  same  yesterday,  to-day  and 
forever,  our  eternal  possession.  "We  rejoice  in  him,  we 
magnify  Him,  we  exalt  Him  above  all  other  beings.  We 
preach  Christ,  and  Him  crucified.  In  Him  we  glory.  To 
all  the  world  we  proclaim  that  having  Him  we  have  all 
things;  having  Him  we  lack  nothing.  He  truly  is  our 
inheritance  and  our  portion.  We  rejoice  that  our  noble 
sires,  our  sturdy  forefathers  accepted  the  Christ  and  the 
gospel  when  presented  to  them;  that  they  took  Him  into 
their  hearts  and  lives  to  be  their  Lord  and  Saviour;  that 
they  preserved  the  gospel  in  its  purity  and  power;  that  they 
taught  their  children  after  them  the  blessed  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus;  and  that  each  succeeding  generation,  believing  in 
Him,  told  those  who  were  to  come  after  them  the  story  of 
the  cross,  and  inspired  in  them  by  their  words  and  example 


Sermon  of  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  339 

a  true  loyalty  to  the  Master  and  Saviour  of  men.  Thus  it 
has  come  to  be  that  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  our  inheritance; 
that  Jesus  is  our  Saviour  ;  that  the  Holy  Spirit  is  our  Sanc- 
tifier  and  Guide.  This  is  the  sum  of  the  blessing  in  which 
we  rejoice.  This  is  the  priceless  heritage  to  which  we  have 
fallen  heir. 

This  is  the  heritage  we  are  to  transmit  to  our  children. 
This  knowledge  of  the  living  God,  the  everlasting  Father, 
the  Prince  of  Peace,  we  must  give  to  others.  We  are  cus- 
todians of  the  truth,  not  "to  have  and  to  hold,"  but  to  have 
and  bestow.  As  we  have  freely  received,  we  must  freely 
give.  We  are  debtors  to  the  world  by  so  much  as  we  have 
the  gospel  of  light  and  life  and  love. 

II.  Our  duty  stated  more  particularly. 

The  words  of  our  text  readily  adapt  themselves  to  the 
peculiar  temper  of  our  mind  and  heart  at  this  time.  Our 
lot  has  specially  bright  aspects  which  the  century  of  history 
presents  to  us.  In  our  great  treasure-trove  we  note  brilliant 
jewels  in  which  we  find  peculiar  delight.  It  is  not  difficult 
to  mark  them.  To  these  I  desire  to  call  your  particular 
attention,  and  to  the  duty  growing  out  of  them. 

The  duty  of  our  second  century,  expressed  in  a  single 
phrase,  is  loyalty  to  our  traditions.  This  is  the  gist  of  what 
I  am  to  say  to-night.  All  that  follows  will  be  to  illustrate 
and  enforce  this  commanding  duty. 

Loyalty  to  our  traditions  does  not  mean  narrowness,  or 
bigotry,  or  conservativeness,  or  any  ecclesiastical  bour- 
bonism.  The  whole  spirit  of  progress,  of  aggressive,  intel- 
ligent, large-minded,  large-hearted  sympathy  with  the 
present,  of  skillful  adaptation  of  truth  and  activity  to  the 


340  Centennial  Memorial. 

needs  of  the  hour  are  wrapped  up  in  the  observance  of  this 
one  duty. 

We  have  a  goodly  heritage  and  must  keep  it.  The 
traditions  of  the  Church  are  the  character  of  the  Church. 
New  Churches  are  apt  to  be  heterogeneous  and  unformed  in 
their  character  but  as  the  years  lengthen  out  into  decades, 
and  scores,  and  centuries,  they  come  to  have  their  own 
particular  way  of  doing  their  work,  of  viewing  truth,  of 
developing  their  life.  They  come  to  have  an  individuality 
which  is  recognized  as  their  own.  This  means  simply 
that  they  have  each  a  mission  to  perform,  and  they  go 
about  it  in  their  own  way.  The  fact  that  some  people 
like  one  Church  better  than  another,  feel  more  at  home  in 
it,  or  feel  more  in  sympathy  with  its  aims  and  spirit,  is  a 
recognition  of  this  that  each  Church  has  its  own  individ- 
uality. 

What  we  commonly  call  the  traditions  of  a  church  are 
the  marks  by  which  it  is  known.  It  is  not  at  all  surprising 
that  many  of  the  traditions  which  I  mention  this  evening 
as  belonging  to  us  to  some  extent  belong  also  to  other 
Churches.  Everybody  has  a  nose,  and  eyes,  and  ears;  but 
there  is  just  enough  variety  in  these  to  make  faces  dififer. 
Traditions  are  so  combined  and  compounded  in  us  as  to 
give  us  an  individuality  which  makes  us,  a  Church,  in  no 
small  degree,  unlike  the  other  churches  whose  fellowship  we 
delight  in,  and  whose  magnificent  progress  we  rejoice  over. 
I  call  you,  therefore,  to  note  the  traditions  of  this  Church,  as 
I  understand  them,  and  to  press  upon  you  loyalty  to  them, 
that  is  to  say,  to  urge  you  to  maintain  the  character  of  this 
Church.     If  it  has  gained  anything  during  the  past  hun- 


Sermon  of  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  341 

dred  years  that  is  worth  keeping,  it  is  its  character.  The 
individual  acts  and  events  of  the  preceding  generations 
have  contributed  toward  its  formation.  The  past  activities 
have  converged  toward  the  present  moment.  A  hundred 
years  have  written  their  lines  upon  our  face,  and  men  know 
us  as  we  are.  Our  name  stands  for  a  distinct  idea  in  this 
city,  and  of  it  we  are  justly  proud,  and  for  the  maintenance 
of  it  we  should  bend  our  efforts. 

I  am  constrained  to  say  that  I  know  no  Church  whose 
traditions  are  more  to  my  liking;  and,  as  I  believe,  more 
Scriptural.  When,  nine  years  ago  or  more,  I  was  delib- 
erating whether  I  should  accept  your  unanimous  call  to 
become  your  Pastor,  one  of  the  considerations  which  led  me 
to  make  a  decision  agreeably  to  your  wishes  was  the  charac- 
ter of  this  Church  as  I  gathered  it  from  the  traditions  cur- 
rent among  you.  I  felt  that  I  would  be  at  home  among  a 
people  whose  past  and  whose  present  place  the  emphasis 
yours  do  upon  certain  phases  of  the  Christian  life.  In  this 
I  have  not  been  disappointed.  As  the  Minister  of  this 
Church,  "  The  lines  have  fallen  unto  me  in  pleasant  places, 
and  I  have  a  goodly  heritage."  Each  one  of  3'ou  is 
justified  in  making  the  same  declaration  in  view  of  your 
membership  here. 

What  are  some  of  these  traditions  which  indicate  our  past 
life  and  our  present  character? 

1.  Loyalty  to  yowv  Minister,  and  those  who  have  the  rule 
over  you. 

The  fact  that  you  have  had  but  five  Pastors  in  a  hundred 
years  is  evidence  of  this.  If  I  read  your  history  correctly 
there  has  been  an  unvarying  loyalty  to  and  an  affectionate 


342  Centennial  Memorial. 

regard  for,  your  Ministers.  They  have  always  felt  that  they 
could  depend  upon  their  congregation  to  sustain  them  in 
every  good  work.  In  time  of  crisis,  when  your  Minister 
and  your  officers  have  been  called  upon  to  make  momen- 
tous decisions  as  well  as  in  the  ordinary  routine  of  church 
activity,  they  have  not  failed  of  your  cordial  and  hearty 
support.  To  secure  this  co-operation  in  any  undertaking  it 
has  only  been  necessary  for  them  to  make  known  to  you 
that  they  deemed  the  undertaking  expedient.  Your  trus- 
tees, your  deacons,  your  elders  have  never  appealed  to  you 
in  vain  for  support  in  any  good  work.  Happy  are  the 
official  boards,  happy  is  the  Minister  who  are  of  a  church 
with  such  a  character  as  this.  I  cannot  but  believe  that 
this  will  characterize  your  future  attitude  toward  your  Min- 
ister and  officers.  The  second  century  ought  to  witness  the 
same  cordial,  liberal  and  unvarying  loyalty  toward  those 
who  bear  the  rule  among  you.  It  is  a  tradition  worth 
maintaining. 

2.  Large  benevolence. 

The  reputation  of  this  congregation  in  the  city  and  Pres- 
bytery for  liberality  toward  church  causes  and  local  char- 
ities, organized  and  unorganized,  is  truly  enviable.  For 
generations  this  has  been  your  reputation.  It  has  led  many 
to  infer  that  this  is  a  rich  Church,  and  to  speak  of  it  as  such. 
The  fact  is,  that  this  is  not  a  rich  Church,  but  a  liberal  one. 
And  this  is  more  to  your  credit.  And  it  is  more  to  the 
advantage  of  all  good  enterprises.  You  and  your  predeces- 
sors have  counted  it  a  great  privilege  to  give  generously  for 
the  advancement  of  every  good  work.  This  characteristic 
should  continue.     Every  individual  member  of  this  Church 


Sermon  of  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart. 


343 


should  count  it  one  of  the  highest  privileges  the  Master 
bestows  to  give  out  of  his  abundance  and  out  of  his  poverty 
for  the  support  of  good  works.  It  is  jokingly  said  by  some, 
that  we  take  a  collection  on  every  occasion.  It  is  to  our 
praise  that  we  embrace  every  opportunity  to  give  to  the 
Lord's  work.     May  we  ever  merit  this  praise. 

There  are  vast  undertakings,  there  are  mighty  interests, 
there  are  great  causes  to  be  maintained  and  advanced.  We 
must  bear  our  part,  every  one  of  us.  Count  this  as  a  prec- 
ious portion  of  your  inheritance.  Have  you  little,  give 
little;  have  you  much,  give  much.  You  who  are  young, 
upon  whose  mind  the  memory  of  this  past  week  will  linger 
for  many  years,  will  soon  come  into  the  responsibilities,  the 
duties  and  the  obligations  of  this  Church.  Begin  now  to 
cultivate  the  spirit  of  liberality.  Count  it  your  privilege  to 
give  out  of  your  small  possessions.  This  generation  must 
not  drop  below  the  past  in  the  liberality  of  our  gifts.  Every 
member  of  the  congregation  ought  to  be  spurred  by  the 
magnificent  generosity  which  has  characterized  the  past 
years  to  an  equally  magnificent  generosity  in  the  days  and 
years  to  come. 

3.  Activity  in  good  works. 

In  reading  the  early  history  of  the  Church,  and  in  listen- 
ing to  the  history  as  it  was  so  admirably  presented  by  Doc- 
tor Robinson,  I  have  been  impressed  with  the  disposition  the 
members  of  this  Church  have  always  had  to  advance 
every  good  undertaking.  In  all  moral  reforms  in  the  com- 
munity, in  every  missionary  enterprise,  in  all  efforts  to 
relieve  the  distress  of  the  poor,  to  enlighten  the  ignorant,  to 
lift  up  the  degraded,  to  spread  the  knowledge  of  the  gospel 


344  Centennial  Memorial. 

in  our  own  region,  in  our  own  country,  and  in  all  the 
world,  this  congregation  has  been  foremost.  Illustrative  of 
this,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  the  church  organized  the 
first  Sunday-school  for  all  this  region ;  it  was  the  prime 
mover  in  the  organization  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. ;  it  was  in  the 
forefront  of  the  Washingtonian  temperance  work ;  its  women 
organized  what  is  probably  the  oldest  woman's  prayer-meet- 
ing in  our  Presbyterian  Church  ;  when  other  Churches  were 
still  indifferent  to  missionary  enterprise,  this  Church  was 
awake;  it  was  the  first  to  organize  its  women  for  home  and 
foreign  work ;  it  had  the  first  Christian  Endeavor  Society  in 
this  city.  In  ever}^  forward  movement  of  the  Church,  it 
has  been  found  in  the  front  rank. 

The  record  of  a  hundred  years  is  the  record  of  work, 
readiness  to  further  the  interest  of  the  community  and 
the  world,  and  of  achievement  brought  about  by  self-sac- 
rificing and  heroic  endeavor. 

I  call  upon  you  this  evening  as  you  enter  upon  the  new 
century,  to  resolve  that  this  shall  be  the  character  of  this 
congregation  in  the  future.  Be  quick  to  further  ever}'  good 
enterprise,  to  take  firm  hold  upon  moral  reforms,  to  advance 
the  interests  of  the  city,  to  exalt  the  name  of  the  Lord  in 
the  mission  fields  of  the  country,  and  of  the  world.  Having 
put  3'our  hands  to  the  plow,  look  not  back.  Press  steadily 
onward  in  all  the  activities  of  the  Church.  There  is  much 
latent  and  unused  talent  here.  The  working  forces  of  the 
Church  might  be  easily  and  largely  augmented  if  each  in- 
dividual member  would  set  about  his  own  particular  task. 
The  condition  of  success,  of  growth,  of  life,  is  work.  The 
history  which  delights  us  is  what  it  is  because  our  fathers 


Sermon  of  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  345 

"  had  a  mind  to  work."  May  we,  their  children,  have  the 
same  mind.  You  have  come  into  a  large  inheritance  of  ac- 
tivity. The  Church  is  admirably  equij^ped  for  all  kinds  of 
endeavor.  Everyone  can  find  something  to  his  liking. 
Some  kind  of  work  for  which  he  is  especially  and  particu- 
larly adapted.  Let  him  make  his  own  selection.  Let  him 
ask  what  kind  of  work  he  is  to  do  in  order  to  maintain 
he  tradition  of  this  Church  as  a  Church  of  intense  enthus- 
iasm and  conse-  crated  activity. 

4.  Readiness  to  meet  emergencies. 

Those  who  have  listened  to  the  record  of  our  history  have 
been  impressed  with  the  courage,  intelligence,  and  wisdom 
with  which  the  various  emergencies  of  the  past  have  been 
met.  It  is  not  necessary  to  rehearse  any  one  of  them.  That 
has  already  been  ably  done.  I  simply  call  your  attention 
to  the  fact  that  the  crises  in  the  life  of  this  Church  have 
been  ably  and  successfully  passed.  Through  all  its  trials 
and  perils  it  has  come  with  increased  strength  and  renewed 
vigor.  Calmness,  dignity,  heroism,  wisdom,  are  written  on 
the  pages  of  our  history  in  bold  characters.  I  pray  you 
that  in  coming  days  there  may  be  no  lack  of  these  great 
virtues  in  our  congregation.  May  we  ever  be  read}''  to  rise 
to  every  occasion,  and  meet  every  exigency,  embrace  every 
opportunity  to  do  our  duty  with  firmness,  with  zeal,  with 
heroism. 

5.  Attachment  to  our  faith  and  order. 

We  are  a  Presbyterian  Church,  we  never  have  been 
anything  else  either  in  fact  or  in  spirit.  A  hundred  years 
of  loyal  adherence  to  the  doctrine  of  our  Church  has  won 
for  us  the  right  of  claiming,  what  is  not  now  disputed,  that 


346  Centennial  Memorial. 

we  are  in  heart  and  life  true  Presbyterians.  We  love  our 
polity ;  we  believe  it  to  be  both  Scriptural  and  wise.  Its 
repose  of  authority  in  the  whole  church,  and  its  jealous 
protection  of  the  autonomy  of  each  particular  congregation 
we  believe  secures  for  us  the  best  advantages  of  law  and 
liberty.  The  doctrine  of  our  Church  we  most  cordially 
accept.  Its  system  of  faith  as  set  forth  in  the  Westminster 
standards  we  believe  to  be  Scriptural.  That  it  might  be 
made  more  truly  Scriptural  in  its  emphasis,  its  proportion 
of  truth,  its  language,  this  pulpit  favored  cordially  the 
effort  made  three  years  ago  to  revise  our  Confession  of 
Faith.  May  this  pulpit  and  these  pews  ever  favor  the 
improvement  of  the  Confession  in  these  respects. 

This  doctrine  has  always  been  taught  and  accepted 
here.  May  we  always  retain  our  character  in  this 
respect.  May  we  always  be  loyal  in  our  adherence  to  a 
Scriptural  polity  and  a  Scriptural  creed.  May  "we  never 
turn  from  the  Bible  as  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and 
life.  May  we  never  lose  the  spirit  of  Presbyterianism  which 
exalts  the  Lord  as  the  head  of  the  Church,  and  regards  the 
fellowship  of  the  saints  as  the  true  type  of  Christian  unity. 

6.  Christian  fraternity. 

The  annals  of  this  Church  are  marked  by  a  large  spirit 
of  brotherly  love,  and  of  delightful  Christian  fellowship 
with  the  other  Churches  of  this  city.  When  there  was  but 
one  other  denomination  we  dwelt  with  it  in  delightful 
accord  land  mutual  regard,  and  now  that  there  are  fifty 
or  more  other  Churches,  we  desire  to  maintain  the  same 
spirit  of  brotherly  love.  I  am  pleased  to  state,  as  an  indi- 
cation of  this  fact,  that  when  your  committee  was  deliber- 


Sermon  of  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  347 

ating  with  reference  to  the  raatter  of  extending  invitations- 
to  this  centennial,  it  decided  with  unanimity  and  great 
heartiness  to  extend  in  the  name  of  the  congregation  an 
invitation  to  every  minister  in  the  city,  both  Hebrew  and 
Christian,  Catholic  and  Protestant.  I  rejoice  in  the 
reputation  which  you  so  universally  have  of  being  a 
large-minded,  broad  and  liberal  Church.  May  no  spirit 
of  narrowness  or  bigotry  ever  take  possession  of  this  pulpit 
or  these  pews.  May  we  ever  be  quick  to  recognize  the 
image  of  our  God  in  any  man.  May  we  delight  to  cultivate 
the  broadest  sympathies,  the  largest  charity,  the  warmest 
fraternity  for  our  fellow  citizens  in  the  community  of  men, 
and  for  our  fellow  disciples  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 

7.  Love  of  liberty. 

If  our  ancestors  have  given  us  one  treasure  more  precious 
than  the  rest  it  is  this.  At  the  siege  of  Derry  and  elsewhere 
before  and  since,  and  among  the  hills  of  the  Palatinate,  they 
counted  not  their  lives  dear  for  their  love  of  liberty. 
Anarchy  either  in  the  church  or  in  the  State  has  found  na 
place  in  their  creed  or  their  practice.  They  loved  order, 
they  delighted  in  law,  but  they  abhored  despotism.  They 
stood  firmly  on  their  feet  in  the  maintenance  of  their  man- 
hood. They  were  willing  to  sacrifice  everything  save  their 
independence.  This  they  maintained  against  all  comers  in 
order  that  they  might  lay  it  at  the  feet  of  the  one  Sovereign 
of  men,  the  risen  and  ascended  Lord.  Throughout  the 
history  of  this  congregation  there  is  the  same  record  of 
noble,  respectful,  loyal  recognition  of  authority  properly 
constituted  and  legally  exercised,   and  along   with  it  the 


348  Centennial  Memorial. 

most  emphatic  and  unswerving  resistance  of  everj^  attempt 
at  despotic  rule. 

When  in  1837,  for  example,  the  spirit  of  despotism  and 
intolerance  of  difference  of  opinion  took  possession  of  the 
church,  and  expressed  itself  in  the  exscinding  acts  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  that  year,  by  which  certain  Synods, 
Presbyteries  and  congregations  were  cut  off  from  the 
church,  notwithstanding  their  protests  of  loyalty  to  both 
the  creed  and  polity  of  the  church,  this  congregation,  pastor 
and  people,  were  willing  to  take  their  stand  with  the 
exscinded  churches  in  the  maintenance  of  their  rights. 
They  claimed  the  liberty  of  interpretation,  a  claim  subse- 
quently acknowledged  by  all  in  the  Reunion  of  1870,  and 
they  would  not  surrender  so  sacred  a  right. 

The  traditions  of  these  early  struggles  still  remain  w4th 
us,  and  the  spirit  of  our  fathers  is  the  spirit  of  their  sons. 
We  delight  in  law,  we  recognize  the  authority  of  our  tri- 
bunals, and  we  render  true  and  loyal  obedience ;  but  we  will 
not  surrender  our  liberty  at  the  command  of  any  tribunal. 
May  we  never  enter  into  slavery,  and  there  is  no  slavery 
TQore  debasing,  more  poisoned  with  death  to  the  intellect,  the 
heart  and  the  life  than  slaver}^  to  opinion.  We  claim  the 
right  as  true  Presbyterians,  and  may  we  always  claim  it,  to 
think  for  ourselves ;  to  open  the  word  of  God,  and  to  get 
from  it  its  precious  truths;  to  bow  to  the  will  of  no  man  and 
no  church  in  the  matters  in  which  God  has  revealed  to  us 
our  path  of  duty.  We  continue  to  love  the  liberty  for 
which  our  fathers  fought,  the  liberty  which  they  have 
secured  for  us  in  the  wisely  framed  constitutions  of  State 
-and  Church.     For  there  is  nothing  that  the  constitution  of 


Sermon  of  Rev.  George  B.  Stewart.  349- 

this  country  so  jealously  guards  as  the  individual  liberties 
of  the  people.  There  is  nothing  that  the  constitution  of  our 
Presbyterian  church  so  plainly  and  emphatically  secures  as 
the  liberty  of  both  her  ministers  and  her  people.  The 
whole  framework  of  our  church  government  was  designed 
to  secure  to  every  man  the  enjoyment  of  his  liberties,  and 
the  preservation  of  his  individual  rights.  May  we  ever 
regard  it  as  our  highest  duty  to  use  the  whole  machinery  of 
our  ecclesiastical  organization  to  thwart  ever}''  attempt 
of  Session,  Presbytery,  Synod  or  General  Assembly  in  the 
tyrannous  exercise  of  power. 

This  spirit  we  have  inherited.  Into  this  and  like  posses- 
sions we  have  come,  and  we  must  preserve  our  inheritance. 
The  onl}^  way  to  keep  what  we  have  is  to  add  to  it.  We 
rejoice  in  our  character.  We  take  it  as  a  compliment  when- 
ever one  of  these  characteristics  of  our  congregation  is 
referred  to.  May  we  intensify  the  significance  of  the  praise 
by  increasing  our  possession  of  the  virtue.  We  stand  on 
the-  crest  of  a  hundred  years.  The  mountain  peak  of  the 
century  furnishes  us  the  vantage  ground  from  which  to 
look  upon  the  vast  possibilities  of  our  life.  A  broad 
horizon  is  opened  to  our  view.  The  way  by  which  we  have 
come  is  marked  clearly  for  us  in  the  monuments  of  past 
achievements,  of  past  activity,  of  past  nobility.  The  way 
by  which  we  are  to  go  is  to  a  very  large  extent  hidden  from 
our  view.  We  cannot  see  what  the  coming  century  has  for 
this  church,  and  we  would  not  if  we  could.  We  are  walk- 
ing with  God,  he  is  our  portion  and  our  inheritance.  We 
trust  the  way  to  him,  we  delight  in  his  guidance,  and 
repose  absolute  confidence  in  his  leadership.     Yet  we  are- 


350  Centennial  Memorial. 

assured  if  the  past  has  brought  an3'thing  to  us  that  is  worth 
keeping,  it  is  our  character  as  a  church.  That  character  it 
is  our  solemn  duty  to  maintain.  These  virtues  which  our 
fathers  have  won  for  us  we  must  seek  to  increase.  We 
build  upon  the  past ;  we  perpetuate  its  blessings  in  maintain- 
ing this  noblest  of  characters.  It  is  now  ours ;  and,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  we  will  make  it  our  children's. 


APPENDIX. 


A  CENTURY  OF  PASTORS. 


REV.  NATHANIEL  RANDOLPH  SNOWDEN. 

Pastor  1793-1805. 


By  Majoi'  General  GEORGE  R.  Snowden. 


The  Reverend  Nathaniel  Randolph  Snowden.  fourth  son  of  Isaac 
and  Mary  Coxe  Snowden,  was  born  in  Philadelphia  on  the  17th  of 
January,  1770.  and  received  his  baptismal  name  in  honor  of  his  grand- 
uncle.  Nathaniel  Fitz  Randolph,  of  the  New  Jersey  and  Massachusetts 
family  of  that  name,  who  started  the  first  subscription  paper  to  found 
the  Colleg-e  at  Princeton,  and  gave  the  ground  on  which  was  built 
Nassau  Hall.  His  father,  besides  being  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey  at  Princeton,  and  member  of 
committee  to  draft  form  of  government  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
was  Quartermaster  in  the  Army  of  the  Revolution,  Commissioner  for 
the  Issue  of  Continental  Currency.  Treasurer  of  the  city  and  county  of 
Philadelphia,  etc.,  etc.  He  was  born  in  that  city  in  1732,  and  died  in 
1809,  and  was  buried  in  the  grounds  of  Old  Middle  town  Presbyterian 
church  in  Delaware  county,  while  the  son  was  Pastor.  His  grand- 
father, Isaac,  first,  was  a  ruling  elder  and  member  of  the  first  Session 
of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia,  established  in 
1743,  with  which  the  family  has  been  since  continuously  connected. 
His  great-grandfather  was  John  Snowden,  elder  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  that  city,  the  first  elder  ordained  in  Pennsylvania 
and  believed  to  be  the  first  ordained  in  this  country. 

Nathaniel  Randolph  Snowden,  graduated  at  Princeton  in  1787.  His 
four  brothers  also  took  degrees  at  the  same  college,  three  of  them 
with  himself  becoming  honored  and  useful  clergymen  in  the  Church 
of  their  forefathers.  In  1788  he  began  the  study  of  theology  under 
Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Nesbit,  President  of  Dickinson  College  :  then  a 
Presbyterian  institution  ;  taking  a  full  course  in  theology  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  1792,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia.  In 
the  same  year  he  married  Sarah  Gustine,  of  Carlisle,  who  was  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Lemuel  Gustine,  and  granddaughter  of  Dr.  William 


356  Centeimial  Memorial. 

Hooker  Smith,  both  surgeons  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  taking 
part  in  Sullivan's  Expedition.  Dr.  Gustine  was  witness  to  the  Treaty 
of  Forty  Fort  and  escaping  with  his  family  down  the  Susquehanna 
in  a  boat,  landed  at  Harris'  Ferry,  and  the  daughter,  Sarah,  was  the 
last  survivor  of  the  massacre  of  Wyoming.  Through  Dr.  Smith  she 
was  descended  from  the  distinguished  Puritans,  Governor  William 
Leete  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker ;  the  latter,  to  whom  a  statue 
has  been  recently  erected  by  the  State  of  Connecticut,  was  especially 
noted  for  his  services  in  the  formation  of  free  institutions  in  that 
Colony. 

The  first  charge  of  the  young  minister  was  at  Paxtang  and  Derry, 
where  in  1793  he  succeeded  the  celebrated  Revolutionary  hero,  the 
Rev.  Colonel  John  Elder,  and  Harrisburg,  where  he  was  the  first 
pastor  of  the  English-speaking,  now  known  as  the  Market  Square, 
Presbyterian  Church.*  His  residence  at  Harrisburg  was,  perhaps, 
the  most  pleasant  of  his  life,  for  here  his  children,  save  one,  were 
born,  and  he  always  referred  to  his  pastorate  of  this  congregation  in 
terms  which  indicated  the  warmth  of  his  affection  for  his  people  and 
the  tenderness  of  his  recollections  of  them.  A  fine  scholar,  he  con- 
ducted for  some  yeai-s  Dickinson  College,  and  at  the  places  where  he 
was  settled  he  was  seldom  content  without  a  class  to  teach  in  mathe- 
matics and  the  classics.  In  1806,  at  Lancaster,  then  the  State  cap- 
ital, he  conducted  with  much  usefulness  an  academy  for  young  ladies. 
In  the  list  of  pupils  appear  the  names  of  all  the  leading  families. 
During  a  long  and  useful  life,  leather  fond,  perhaps,  of  seeking  new 
fields  he  was,  besides  Paxtang  and  Harrisburg,  the  honored  pastor  of 
congregations  at  Williamsport,  Chester,  Pittsburgh  and  Kittanning. 
In  his  pastorate  he  followed  the  old  customs  in  explaining  the  Psalms 
at  length,  and  in  social  visits  questioning  the  children  in  the  Shorter 
Catechism,  and  joining  with  the  family  in  prayer,  in  which  he  was 
remarkably  fervent.  His  favorite  book  was  the  Greek  Testament,  his 
daily  companion  until  failing  sight  denied  him  the  comfort  and  con- 
solation of  reading  it.  Not  especially  noted  for  oratory,  his  sermons 
were  clear,  forcible,  written  with  much  literary  taste  and  delivered 
with  an  earnestness  in  full  appreciation  of  his  calling.  A  fragment 
of  a  diary  which  remains,  shows  hardships  which  befell  the  early 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  but  it  also  shows  his  entire  trust  in  the 
divine  Master  and  constant  and  fervid  appeals  to  the  throne  of  mercy. 

*Oti  April  10,  1793,  he  was  takeu  under  the  care  of  the  Presbyter}'  of  Carlisle,  and  a 
call  from  the  three  congregations  of  Derry,  Paxtang  and  Harrisburg,  having  been  put 
into  his  hands  and  accepted  by  him,  he  was,  on  October  2,  1793,  ordained  and  installed 
over  these  churches.  Subsequently  he  relinquished  the  charge  of  Derry  in  October, 
1795,  and  of  Paxtang  in  Spring  of  1796.  Harrisburg  remained  his  sole  charge  until 
June  25,  1805.— Editor. 


A  Century  of  Pastors.  357 

Admiring-  with  pardonable  pride  the  patriotic  and  vahiable  services 
of  his  father  in  tlie  Revohition,  he  was  fond  of  saying  that  he  had 
heard,  when  a  claild,  tlie  bell  ring-  to  announce  the  reading  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  It  is  a  tradition  in  the  family  that, 
with  a  number  of  other  Presbyterian  clergymen,  he  volunteered  to 
form  a  company  in  the  war  of  1812-15  with  Great  Britain,  but  their 
services  were  declined.  Two  sons,  however,  Isaac  and  Charles,  both 
quite  young,  well  represented  him  in  the  ranks  of  his  country's  de- 
fenders. Of  more  than  middle  height,  he  had  a  fine  physique  and 
blessed  with  uniformly  good  health,  was  capable  of  great  endurance. 

At  Freeport,  Armstrong  county,  at  the  residence  of  his  son, 
Charles,  in  1850,  he  died  in  peace,  and  his  beloved  and  accomplished 
wife,  the  companion  of  many  joys  and  sorrows,  followed  him  to  rest 
in  1854.  They  left  six  children:  Isaac  Wayne,  a  surgeon  with  Gen- 
eral Jackson  in  the  South,  severely  wounded  at  Fort  Scott ;  Charles 
Gustine ;  Lemuel  Gustine  ;  Mary  Parker,  wife  of  James  Thompson, 
afterward  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court ;  Nathaniel  DuflReld, 
and  James  Ross.  Of  these  all  were  born  at  Harrisburg,  except  the 
youngest,  who  was  born  at  Chester,  and  all  are  now  dead.  Four  sons 
were  leading-  and  successful  physicians,  while  James  Ross  was  a 
lawyer  and  noted  in  public  life,  holding  many  positions  of  trust  and 
honor — Speaker  House  of  Representatives  of  Pennsylvania,  State 
Treasurer,  Director  of  the  Mint,  etc.,  etc.,  and  an  author  of  reputa- 
tion. Of  his  grandchildren  may  be  mentioned  Archibald  Loudon 
Snowden,  late  Superintendent  of  the  Mint,  United  States  Minister  to 
Greece  and  Spain,  etc.,  etc.;  James  Ross  Thompson,  an  eminent 
lawyer  of  Erie  ;  Samuel  Gustine  Thompson,  late  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court ;  Dr.  Samuel  Gustine  Snowden,  a  distinguished  physi- 
cian, of  Franklin,  now  deceased,  and  George  Randolph  Snowden, 
Major  General  commanding  the  National  Guard  of  Pennsylvania." 


REV.  JAMES  BUCHANAN. 

Pastor  1809-1815. 


The  Church  and  Home  of  August,  1883,  contains  the  following 
sketch : 

"The  second  pastor  of  the  church  was  the  Rev.  James  Buchanan. 
During  the  vacancy  which  succeeded  on  the  departure  of  Rev.  N.  R. 
Snowden,  Mr.  Buchanan,  then  a  young  man  and  a  licentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Newcastle,  was  sent  for  and  preached  his  first  sermon 


358  Centennial  Memorial. 

to  the  people  May  17,  1807.  During  that  year  he  continued  to  hold 
that  pulpit  as  a  stated  supply.  His  services  proved  to  be  so  accepta- 
ble to  the  people  that  on  the  5th  of  February,  1808,  at  a  meeting  of 
the  congregation,  presided  over  by  the  Rev.  James  Snodgrass,  of 
"Old  Hanover  "  he  was  called  to  be  the  pastor  of  the  church.  On 
the  15th  of  April  he  was  received  as  a  licentiate  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Carlise,  and  taken  under  its  care.  The  call  from  the  Harrisburg 
church  was  placed  in  his  hands,  and  accepted  by  him.  He  was  or- 
dained to  the  full  work  of  the  ministry,  September  29,  1808,  and  Rev. 
Messrs.  James  Snodgrass,  James  Sharon  and  Joseph  Brady,  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  install  him.  Mr.  Sharon  was  then  pastor  of 
Paxtang  and  Derry  churches,  and  Mr.  Brady,  of  Shermansdale,  Perry 
county.  The  installation  took  place  February  13,  1809,  Rev.  Mr. 
Snodgrass  presiding  and  giving  the  charge  to  the  young  pastor,  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Sharon  preaching  the  sermon.  Mr.  Brady  was  not  present. 
Mr.  Buchanan  was  called  on  a  salary  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
for  three-fourths  of  his  time.  The  remaining  fourth  was  given  to  a 
small  congregation  at  Middle  Paxtang  or  Dauphin.  The  original 
church,  a  log  one,  long  since  gone,  stood  on  the  high  ground  back  of 
the  village  of  Dauphin,  and  about  a  mile  from  the  river.  The  village 
cemetery  now  occupies  the  site.  Fifty  pounds  more  were  added  to 
his  salary  for  this  additional  service.  This  money  was  in  old  Penn- 
sylvania currency,  the  two  hundred  pounds  amounting  to  about  five 
hundred  dollars. 

"It  is  not  known  how  long  Mr.  Buchanan  continued  to  preach  in 
the  Middle  Paxtang  church.  His  relation  to  the  Harrisburg  chui'ch 
continued  until  September  20,  1815,  when  it  was  dissolved,  it  is  be- 
lieved, on  account  of  his  ill  health.  He  served  the  church  as  supply 
and  as  settled  pastor  for  over  eight  years. 

"For  the  following  three  years  Mr.  Buchanan  preached  but  seldom. 
In  1818  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  church  at  Greencastle,  preach- 
ing a  part  of  the  time  at  Waynesboro.  He  continued  his  charge  at 
Greencastle  until  1839,  a  period  of  twenty-one  years,  and  was  greatly 
beloved.  He  removed  thence  to  Logansport,  Indiana,  where  he  died 
on  the  16th  of  September,  1843,  after  a  ministry  of  over  thirty-six 
years. 

"Mr.  Buchanan  is  described  as  a  man  of  tall  form,  commanding 
presence,  and  great  gravity  of  manner.  No  one  could  mistake  his 
profession  or  his  character.  He  was  neat  and  scrupulous  in  dress 
and  courteous  in  his  bearing.  His  sermons  were  short,  compact  and 
precise,  remarkably  so  for  that  Jay  of  long  sermons  and  diffusiveness 
of  style.  Pew  men,  it  has  been  said,  could  say  so  much  as  he  in  so 
few  words.     Though  he  was  not  regarded  as  an  eloquent  preacher,  he 


A  Century  of  Pastors.  359 

was  a  clear,  and  able  and  instructive  one,  and  his  thorough  sincerity 
and  deep  earnestness  made  him  an  impressive  one.  He  had,  how- 
ever, a  very  low  estimate  of  his  own  abilities.  Owing  probably  to  a 
deranged  condition  of  his  own  physical  system,  he  was  nervous  and 
subject  to  periods  of  depression,  falling  into  states  of  deep  melan- 
choly, and  was  a  great  sufferer  from  these  causes.  He  became  so 
nervous  and  timid  that,  w  hile  in  Greencastle,  he  refused,  for  a  time, 
to  perform  marriages  even  between  members  of  his  own  congrega- 
tion. It  was  probably  this  nervous  and  depi'essed  condition  of  mind 
that  accounts  for  the  following  incident,  narrated  of  him  by  the  late 
John  A.  Weir.  Having  given  out  a  hymn,  one  Sunday  morning,  the 
singers  for  some  unknown  reason  neglected  to  sing,  though  there 
were  some  fine  singers  in  the  congregation.  Mr.  B.  closed  the  ser- 
vice abruptly,  saying,  on  the  following  day:  "If  the  singers  could 
not  sing,  the  preacher  could  not  preach.'' 

"  He  was  universally  esteetned  as  a  good  man  and  a  man  of  great 
foi'ce  of  character.  Wherever  he  ministered  he  inspired  reverence 
and  trust,  and  where  well  known,  sincere  affection.  His  people  both 
feared  and  loved  him,  perhaps  the  one  as  much  as  the  other.  His 
grave  and  dignified  manner  rebuked  all  levity  and  lightness,  while 
his  real  goodness  and  sympathy  and  purity  of  life  commanded  rever- 
ence and  esteem." 

Mr.  Buchanan,  and  his  beloved  wife,  lie  side  side  by  in  the  old 
burying  ground  of  Logansport,  Indiana.  Two  plain,  white  marble 
stones,  each  about  four  feet  high  and  three  inches  thick  mark  their 
resting-place.  The  following  are  the  simple  inscriptions  upon  these 
headstones  : 

Rev.  JAMES  BUCHANAN 

Died  at  Logansport 

Sept.  16,  1843 

in  the  62nd  year 

of  his  age 


HARRIET  BUCHANAN 

wife  of 

Rev.  James  Buchanan 

Died  March  12,  1869. 

aged  82  years. 


Some  interesting  references  to  his  father  are  contained  in  Mr.  D. 
C.  Buchanan's  letter  on  pages  310  to  314  of  this  volume. 


360  Centennial  Memorial. 

WILLIAM  RADCLIFFE  DeWITT,  D.  D. 

Pastor  1818-1867. 


By  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  D.  D. 


Among  the  most  ancient  families  of  Holland  descent  that  settled  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  was  that  of  Tjenick  Claase  DeWitt,  the  first 
of  the  DeWitt  family  of  whom  we  have  any  record.  He  was  married 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  April  26,  1656,  to  Barber  Andriesen, -as 
appears  by  the  records  of  the  Dutch  Church  of  that  city.  He  is 
described  as  "  van  Grootholdt  in  Zunderlandt,"  and  his  wife  as  "  van 
Amsterdam."  The  names  of  the  succeeding  line  are  as  follows  :  I. 
Andriesen,  son  of  Tjenick  Claase ;  II.  Tjerie,  son  of  Andriesen  ;  III. 
Petrus,  son  of  Tjerie ;  IV.  John,  son  of  Petrus ;  V.  William  R.,  son 
of  John. 

Dr.  DeWitt's  ancestry  were  of  that  noble  race  of  men,  who  were 
Calvinists  in  religion,  and  republican  in  politics,  for  many  genera- 
tions. 

The  Dutch  were  almost  universally  of  the  Reformed  Churches  in 
religious  faith,  and  sturdy  lovers  of  freedom  in  the  State.  Memor- 
able in  the  Old  World  for  their  devotion  to  liberty  and  religion,  the 
family  of  the  De Witts  partook  of  the  spirit  of  its  race,  and  was  early 
distinguished  for  its  patriotism  and  devotion  to  country.  Four  gen- 
erations have  each  furnished  defenders  in  times  of  national  peril. 
From  some  ancient  relics  in  the  family,  we  learn  that  Petrus  DeWitt 
was  a  captain  in  the  old  French  war,  and  fought  under  Wolfe,  at  the 
siege  and  capture  of  Quebec.  His  son,  John  DeWitt,  during  the 
entire  Revolutionary  war,  was  the  captain  of  a  company  of  minute 
men  appointed  to  guard  the  loyal  citizens  against  the  incessant  and 
troublesome  raids  of  Tories,  who  abounded  in  the  section  of  country 
north  of  New  York.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Convention  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  voted  for 
the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

William  Radcliffe  DeWitt,  the  sixth  son  of  John  DeWitt,  was  born 
at  Paudling's  Manor,  Duchess  county.  New  York,  on  the  25th  of 
Februai-y,  1792.  He  was  named  after  his  uncle,  the  Hon.  William 
Radcliffe,  of  Rhinebeck,  Duchess  county.  The  family  of  the  Rad- 
cliffes,  to  which  the  mother  of  Dr.  DeWitt  belonged,  were  distin- 
guished in  civil  life ;  one  of  them,  Jacob  Radcliffe,  serving  for  several 
years  as  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  New  York ; 


^1  Century  of  Pastors.  361 

another,  Peter  Radcliffe,  an  eminent  lawyer  of  the  New  York  bar, 
and  a  Judg-e  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Kings  county :  and  a 
third,  William  Radcliffe,  for  many  years  United  States  Consul  at 
Demarara. 

At  the  early  age  of  ten  years,  he  was  deprived,  by  her  death,  of 
the  counsel  and  love  of  a  mother.  After  spending  several  of  his 
earlier  years  in  school,  and  receiving  a  common  English  edvication, 
William  R.  was  employed  as  a  clerk,  first  in  his  father's  store  in  the 
city  of  Albany,  New  York,  afterwards  with  his  brother  Cornelius,  in 
Fairfield.  Herkimer  county,  and  later  still  in  the  store  of  his  father 
and  brother  at  Newburg,  New  York.  At  about  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
entered  into  the  employ  of  Cairns  &  Lord,  dry  goods  merchants,  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  and  continued  with  them  until  the  year  1811. 
Whilst  residing  with  them,  and  in  their  store,  his  mind  became  much 
exercised  on  the  subject  of  his  own  personal  salvation ;  and  on  Jan- 
uary 8,  1810,  he  made  a  public  profession  of  religion,  connecting  him- 
self with  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Cedar  street,  then  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Rev.  John  B.  Romeyn,  D.  D.  Shortly  afterward  his 
attention  was  turned  to  the  subject  of  the  sacred  ministry,  and  his 
own  duty  in  respect  to  it. 

After  careful  consideration  and  prayer  over  the  matter,  Mr.  De Witt 
felt  called  of  God  to  relinquish  all  worldly  ends,  and  prepare  for  the 
responsible  office  ;  and  in  1811,  then  in  his  nineteenth  year,  he  left 
New  York  and  went  to  reside  with  Rev.  Alexander  Proudfit,  of 
Saiem,  Washington  county,  New  York,  and  entering  Washington 
Academy,  began  a  course  of  classical  studies  under  the  tuition  of  Mr. 
Stevenson,  the  principal  of  the  school. 

While  still  a  student  at  Washington  Academy,  the  second  war  with 
Great  Britain  broke  out,  and  leaving  his  studies,  young  DeWitt  en- 
listed as  a  volunteer  in  the  regiment  of  Colonel  Rice,  that  was  called 
out  to  resist  the  invasion  of  the  British  at  Plattsburg,  and  was  on 
lake  Champlain  at  the  time  of  McDonough's  victory,  September  11, 
18U,  when  the  whole  British  fleet  became  the  trophies  of  American 
valor.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  sometime  in  the  year  1815.  he  en- 
tered Nassau  Hall,  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  as  a  Sophomore,  and  re- 
mained there  until  his  senior  year,  when  because  of  an  interruption 
in  his  studies  of  the  college,  he  withdrew  and  entered  the  senior  class 
of  Union  College,  Schenectday,  N.  Y. 

Leaving  Union  College  before  the  close  of  the  senior  year,  Mr.  De 
Witt  returned  to  New  York,  and  entered  the  Theological  Seminary 
of  the  Associate  Reformed  Church.  While  in  this  Seminary  Mr 
De  Witt  connected  himself  with  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  and 
was  licensed  by  that  body  on  April  2-3,  1818.     The  summer  months  of 


362  Centennial  Memorial. 

1818  were  spent  in  preaching  in  the  State  of  New  York,  but  early  in 
the  fall  of  that  year,  having  received  from  a  friend  an  invitation  to 
visit  Harrisburg,  he  came  hither  and  spent  two  weeks,  preaching  to 
the  people  several  times.  The  result  was  that  a  unanimous  call  to 
become  Pastor  was  given  him  on  October  5,  1818.  The  call  was 
accepted  and  soon  after  he  came  on  and  commenced  his  ministry. 
Uniting  with  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  at  the  earliest  opportunity 
he  passed  the  usual  examinations  required  for  ordination,  and  on  the 
26th  of  October.  1819.  he  was  ordained  to  the  office  of  the  sacred 
ministry  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Carlisle,  and  on  Novem- 
ber 12th,  1819,  he  was  installed  as  Pastor  of  this  Church,  having 
already  served  in  the  pulpit  over  one  year. 

The  main  events  in  the  history  of  the  Church  during  the  pastorate 
of  Dr.  De  Witt  are  rehearsed  elsewhere  and  need  not  be  alluded  to 
in  this  personal  sketch.  Dr.  DeWitt  was  twice  married.  His  first 
wife,  whom  he  married  on  .Tune  22,  1819,  was  Julia  Anna  Woodhull, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Nathan  Woodhull,  Long  Island.  This  happy  rela- 
tion was  sadly  broken,  within  three  years,  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  De 
Witt,  May  1,  1822.  Memories  of  her  long  lingered  in  the  congrega- 
tion as  a  woman  of  great  personal  beauty  and  attractiveness,  of  refined 
and  winning  manners,  accomplished  mind  and  unaffected  piety  of 
heart  and  life.  On  March  15,  1825,  he  married  Mary  Elizabeth  Wal- 
lace, daughter  of  William  and  Eleanor  Maclay  Wallace,  of  Harris- 
burg. This  union,  by  the  kind  providence  of  God,  was  -continued 
until  severed  by  his  own  death,  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years. 

Dr.  De  Witt  i*eceived  the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  course  from  Union 
College,  and  on  July  18,  1838,  he  was  honored  by  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  at  Philadelphia,  with  the  the  title  of  Doctor  of  Divin- 
ity. 

He  was  called  by  the  Church  courts  of  his  own  denomination  to 
serve  as  Moderator  and  to  discharge  high  and  responsible  duties. 
He  was  a  member  of  several  of  the  General  Assemblies  of  the 
Church. 

With  the  originators  and  leading  men  in  that  earliest  and  greatest 
of  American  agencies  for  evangelizing  the  world,  '•  The  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,"  he  maintained  a  life 
long  friendship  and  hearty  co-operation,  having  been  chosen  a  cor- 
porate member  of  the  society  in  1838,  and  in  1842  receiving  the  honor 
of  an  appointment  to  preach  before  the  Board  the  annual  sermon. 

In  the  closing  years  of  his  life,  when  the  burdens  of  the  pastorate 
became  heavy  and  he  sought  the  aid  of  a  colleague,  he  accepted  the 
office  of  State  Librarian  that  was  pressed  upon  him  by  the  Governor 
of  the  Commonwealth,  and  discharged  its  duties  with  gi-eat  faithful- 
ness through  two  terms,  a  period  of  six  years. 


A  Century  of  Pastors.  803 

Dr.  DoWitt  was  a  facile  and  eleg'ant  writer,  but  was  disinclined  to 
publish  his  writings.  The  following  list  comprises  all  that  are  known 
of  his  private  discourses  :  1.  A  Discourse  in  behalf  of  the  Coloniza- 
tion Society  ;  2.  A  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Adams  and  Jefferson  ;  3. 
On  the  Evils  of  Intemperance  ;  4.  An  Address  on  the  Death  of  Gov. 
F.  R.  Shunk :  5.  A  Pastoral  Letter  to  the  Churches  under  the  care 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Harrisburg;  6.  A  small  volume  entitled,  "Her 
Price  above  Rubies;"  7.  The  Sermon  befoi'e  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions  ;  8.  An  Address  at  the  Dedica- 
tion of  the  Harrisburg  Cemetery  ;  9.  A  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Moody;  10,  11.  12.  Three  synodical  sermons,  entitled,  "Min- 
isterial Responsibility,"  "Prayer  for  Zion  "  and  "The  Church  that 
Christ  Loved  ;"  13.  A  Sermon  when  Seventy  Years  of  Age. 

The  ties  that  bound  him  to  this  Church,  the  Church  of  his  ear-ly 
and  his  life-long  love,  the  only  one  among  all  the  Churches  of  America 
that  he  had  ever  called  his  own,  and  for  whose  sake  he  had  refused 
repeated  calls  and  solicitations  to  settle  elsewhere,  seemed  only  to 
grow  stronger  as  the  burden  of  years  divorced  him  from  active  labors 
in  its  behalf. 

Here  he  had  buried  their  dead  and  his  own.  To  them  he  bad 
given  the  dew  of  his  youth,  the  strength  of  his  manhood,  the  care  and 
counsel  of  his  ripest  years.  It  was  natural  and  reasonable  that,  after 
so  long  a  pastorate,  he  should  desire  to  live  and  die  among  the  people 
to  whom  he  had,  for  nearly  half  a  century,  preached  the  unsearch- 
able riches  of  Christ ;  and  that  the  bond  between  him  and  them,  of 
pastor  and  people,  should  be  broken  only  on  the  edge  of  the  grave. 
It  was  a  wish  often  expressed.  The  wish  was  gratified  ;  for  while  he 
yielded  to  his  colleague  the  active  duties  and  pastoral  care  of  the 
Church,  he  retained,  to  the  moment  of  his  death,  his  relation  to  the 
Church  as  its  senior  pastor.  His  official  labors  were  now  nearly  ac- 
complished. So  long  as  he  vpas  able  to  go  out  at  all,  even  when  the 
increasing  infirmities  ol  years  weighed  heavily  upon  him,  he  attended 
the  house  of  God,  at  the  Sabbath  service  and  the  social  meetings  of 
the  Church,  taking  his  accustomed  seat  in  the  pulpit.  His  last  public 
address  was  in  behalf  of  the  female  prayer  meeting  of  the  Church, 
which,  during  the  whole  of  his  lung  ministry,  had  been  regularly 
maintained,  and  had  proved  a  most  faithful  ally  to  his  labors.  He 
spoke  with  great  tenderness  of  its  past  histoi'y,  and  urged  upon  all 
the  female  members  of  the  Church  an  attendance  at  its  weekly  gath- 
erings. His  last  official  duty  is  believed  to  have  been  the  examina- 
tion of  a  young  candidate  for  the  ministry.  Sitting  up  in  his  bed,  he 
faithfully  and  kindly,  drew  from  the  young  man  an  account  of  his  re- 
ligious experience,  of  his  views  of  the  ministry,  his  call  to  the  work. 


364  Centennial  Memorial. 

and  pui^pose  in  entering  upon  it ;  and,  with  the  experience  of  half  a 
century  before  him,  uttered  his  words  of  counsel  and  encouragement, 
and  pronounced  his  benediction  upon  the  youthful  worker. 

The  elements  of  personal  character  and  of  personal  power  over 
others,  very  seldom  proceed  from  the  pre-eminence  of  one  distinguish- 
ing trait ;  but  usually  from  the  combination  of  many  qualities,  physi- 
cal, mental  and  moral.  There  was  no  one  element  in  the  character  of 
Dr.  De  Witt  that  would  instantly  and  universally  be  pointed  out,  as 
the  source  of  his  influence,  or  the  characteristic  of  his  life.  There 
was  rather  a  balance  of  qualities  and  elements  in  him  that  preserved 
him  from  all  idiosyncracies. 

There  was  toeight  in  his  personal  presence.  There  was  that  in  his  ap- 
perance  and  bearing,  when  in  his  prime,  or  in  his  vigor  of  full  health, 
that  inspired  respect  and  indicated  power.  His  person  was  of  full 
size,  and  good  proportions,  in  early  and  middle  life,  and  was  the  ex- 
pression of  manly  vigor  and  dignity.  Those  who  remember  him  as 
he  entered  upon  his  ministi-y  here,  speak  of  his  handsome  and  im- 
posing presence,  his  noble  carriage,  his  finely  developed  frame,  and 
glowing,  manly  countenance.  And,  at  the  latest  years  of  his  life, 
when  his  step  was  enfeebled  and  slow,  and  the  body  began  to  bend, 
his  patriarchal  aspect,  as  the  whitened  locks  gathered  like  a  crown 
of  glory  on  his  head,  the  calmness  and  gravity  of  a  face  so  slightly 
altered  by  age,  secured  for  him  an  involuntary  homage  and  defer- 
ence. 

He  was  a  man  warmly  social  and  genial  in  his  temperament.  His 
home  life  was  filled  with  true  and  tender  affections  ;  and  they  who 
have  often  met  him  in  society,  know  that  there  were  few  who  could 
better  enliven  and  entertain  than  Dr.  De  Witt.  He  was  a  ready  and 
fluent  talker,  a  man  of  quick  impulses  and  generous  feelings,  of  ready 
wit,  apt  at  repartee  ;  and  when  he  opened  his  fund  of  reminiscences 
of  earlier  times  and  men,  all  wei'e  ready  to  listen.  In  the  meetings 
of  the  Presbytery  and  Pastoral  Association  of  this  city,  his  presence 
was  ever  welcomed  as  that  of  a  friend  of  peace,  a  genial  spirit,  a 
pattern  of  gentleness  and  forbearance.  And  in  his  own  congregation, 
though  often  deeply  depressed  and  despondent  over  his  labors,  there 
was  never  a  substantial  sorrow  to  which  he  did  not  give  his  presence, 
or  a  grief  that  lacked  his  sympathy. 

Dr.  Dewitt  was  a  man  of  self-depreciative  and  modest  nature.  With  a 
keen  and  high  sense  of  his  calling  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and 
an  honest  desire  to  preach  the  Gospel  worthily  and  powerfully, 
he  seldom  left  the  pulpit  without  a  sense  of  failure  and  personal  un- 
fitness, wholly  unwarranted  by  the  character  of  his  preaching,  either 
in  the  matter,  or  the  manner  of  its  delivei-y.  There  was  no  self -glory 
in  his  nature . 


A  Century  of  Pastors.  365 

Dr.  Dewitt  was  a  man  of  unquestioned  power  as  a  preacher.  His  posi- 
tion at  this  center  of  influence,  the  capital  of  tlie  State,  gave  him  un- 
common opportunities  of  reaching  many  men  of  intellectual  standing 
and  of  great  influence  from  all  parts  of  the  State.  He  was  a  man  of 
fine  scholarship.  He  possessed  a  voice  of  great  sweetness,  clearness 
of  tone  and  power.  As  a  reader  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  very  few  ex- 
celled him.  In  his  early  ministry,  his  preaching  is  said  to  have  been 
peculiarly  bold  and  eloquent  in  manner  :  and  by  the  added  novelty, 
beauty  and  pungency  of  his  thoughts,  stirred  to  the  depths  the  ele- 
ments of  society.  His  discourses  were  written  with  great  clearness 
and  purity  of  style.  Many  of  his  sermons,  in  their  matter,  form,  and 
in  their  delivery,  were  models  of  pulpit  eloquence.  He  was  impres- 
sive, dignified  and  graceful.  Other  men  have  excelled  him  in  versa- 
tility of  talent ;  but  it  has  fallen  to  the  lot  of  few  men  to  mould  edu- 
cational, moral  and  religious  influences  in  so  wide  a  sphere  and 
through  so  many  years.  The  end  at  which  he  aimed  was  the  turning 
of  men  to  God  and  the  training  of  religious  life  of  his  people  ;  and 
his  chief  instrumentality  was  the  studious  and  careful  prepai-ation 
and  the  impressive  delivery  of  good  sermons. 

He  was  eminently  a  Christian  preacher.  Converted  in  his  early 
youth  ;  brought  under  the  influence  of  men  whose  praise  was  in  the 
American  Churches  for  their  zeal,  and  piety,  and  deep  devotion  to 
the  cause  of  Christ ;  drawn  by  his  own  youthful  ardor  into  the  min- 
istry, the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  was  a  work  of  love.  And  to  his 
vision  all  truth  arranged  itself  around  one  center^ — the  cross  of  the 
world's  Redeemer.  From  that  center  he  seldom  strayed  ;  seeking  to 
obey  the  maxim  of  an  old  divine,  to  have  enough  of  Christ  in  every 
discourse  to  point  the  way  of  approach  to  Him  to  any  inquiring  soul. 
He  was  decidedly  evangelical  and  scriptural.  He  cared  little  for 
human  speculations,  dealt  sparingly  in  what  may  be  called  the  phil- 
osophy of  Christianity ;  but  taking  the  truths  of  the  Divine  Word  as 
they  are  revealed  ;  the  lost,  ruined,  helpless  condition  of  man  as  a 
sinner ;  the  provision  which  God  has  made  for  his  recovery  in  a 
vicarious  atonement ;  the  contrasts  of  law  and  grace  ;  the  character 
and  completeness  of  that  righteousness  of  Jesus  Christ  which  is 
"imputed  unto  us  and  received  by  faith  alone  ;"  the  regenei'ating  and 
sanctifying  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  the  divine  nature  and 
kingly  authority  of  Jesus  Christ ;  the  relation  of  his  atoning  blood  to 
all  promises  of  good,  all  growth  in  Christian  life,  and  all  hopes  of 
heaven  ;  as  well  as  to  all  threatenings  of  evil,  and  the  condemnation 
of  the  guilty ;  in  the  region  of  these  and  their  related  truths,  that 
bring  the  great  facts  and  principles  of  the  Gospel  before  the  mind. 
Dr.  DeWitt  was  a  preacher  of  great  power.    Clearness,  precision, 


366  Centennial  Memorial. 

force,  characterized  his  demonstrations  :  fullness,  fervor  and  pathos 
marked  his  appeals.  Perceiving  the  glory  and  feeling  the  precious- 
ness  of  the  truth  himself,  he  exhausted  his  powers  to  secure  a  like 
impression  on  the  mind  and  heart  of  his  hearers. 

A  Presbyterian  by  birth,  education  and  preference,  firm  and  de- 
cided in  his  theological  views,  in  all  the  habits  of  his  thoughts,  con- 
ser-vative  and  jealous  of  the  new  and  untried,  he  was  yet  liberal  and 
catholic  in  spirit.  Never  wavering  in  his  preferences  for,  and  ad- 
herence to  the  church  to  which  he  was  attached,  there  was  yet  no 
spirit  of  exclusiveness  in  him,  that  claimed  for  his  denomination  all 
truth  and  goodness.  During  a  ministry  of  nearly  fifty  years  in  this 
city,  he  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  all  his  ministerial  brethren. 
He  was  ready  to  assist  them  in  every  good  work,  and  seldom,  in 
public  prayer,  omitted  to  call  down  the  blessing  of  God  upon  them 
and  their  churches.  Toward  all  who  loved  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in 
sincerity  and  truth,  he  preserved  a  true  affection,  and  upon  them  all 
besought  the  grace,  mercy  and  peace  of  God. 

Dr.  DeWitt  came  here  in  his  youth,  but  with  a  mind  admirably 
trained  for  the  work  that  was  before  him.  For  thirty-six  years  he  stood 
in  the  pulpit  of  this  church  sole  pastor.  He  was  the  teacher  and 
guide  of  the  people.  He  quietly  planted  the  seeds  of  divine  truth  ; 
he  worked  about  the  roots  of  character.  He  infused  his  own  con- 
ceptions of  saving  doctrine  into  the  minds  of  two  generations.  He 
was  the  regular  visitant  upon  multiplying  families.  He  baptized 
the  children,  guarded  inquirers,  and  welcomed  hundreds  to  the  table 
of  communion.  He  linked  his  life  with  hundreds  of  other  lives  in 
beneficent  influence,  and  buried  sadly  from  his  sight  the  genei'ation 
that  welcomed  his  coming. 

During  the  last  years  of  his  life  he  preached  but  seldom,  having 
relinguished  to  his  colleague  the  care  of  the  church,  but  he  continued 
still  to  illustrate  the  beauties  of  Christian  character  and  the  power 
of  the  Gospel  he  had  so  long  proclaimed.  His  mental  power  remained 
unimpaired.  His  thought  of  the  coming  world  became  softened  and 
subdued  by  the  light  that  was  breaking  upon  him  from  the  heavenly 
world.  He  spoke  of  his  departure  with  calmness,  yet  with  tenderness 
of  feeling.  His  earthly  cares  were  dismissed  and  he  waited  the  sum- 
mons of  departure.  It  came  as  he  had  long  desired — suddenly,  and 
without  pain  and  helplessness.  In  a  moment  "  the  golden  bowl  was 
broken,"  and  he  was  gone  from  earthly  intercoui'se  to  renew  in  an- 
other world  the  severed  bonds  of  love  and  fellowship,  and  to  greet  the 
redeemed  and  holy  ones  who  from  the  communion  of  this  church  had 
preceded  him  to  glory. 

It  would  be  unjust  to  the  memory  of  one  who  impressed   her  life 


A  Centunj  of  Pastors.  367 

very  deeply  upon  the  lives  of  many  in  the  chiu'ch  not  to  mention 
briefly  Mrs.  Mary  E.  DeWitt,  who  for  so  many  years  seconded  the 
labors  of  her  husband  by  her  own. 

Mary  Elizabeth  Wallace,  wife  of  William  R.  DeWitt.  D.  D.,  was 
the  daug-hter  of  William  Wallace  and  Eleanor  Maclay.  She  was 
born  in  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  May  7,  1807,  whither  her  father  had  re- 
moved from  Harrisburg  after  his  marriage.  She  was  the  first  born 
of  the  household.  The  family  returned  to  Harrisburg  in  1810.  Mi's. 
DeWitt  was  closely  connected  with  prominent  families  in  the  town. 
John  Harris,  the  founder  of  the  town  was  her  great-grandfather. 
WilliauD  Maclay,  the  lirst  Senator  from  Pennsylvania  in  the  United 
States  Senate,  was  her  grandfather.  Her  father  established  the 
Harrisburg  Bank  and  was  its  first  President.  A  large  part  of  her 
early  life  was  spent  in  the  Maclay  house,  now  the  Harrisburg  Acad- 
emy property  and  the  residence  of  Professor  Jacob  P.  Seller.  Her 
father  died  when  she  was  but  nine  years  of  age,  in  1816.  He  then 
resided  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Second  street  and  Cherry  alley. 
After  his  death  the  family  occujiied  the  Maclay  house  until  the  death 
of  Mrs.  Wallace,  in  1823.  The  marriage  of  Mary  E.  Maclay  and  Rev. 
W.  R.  DeWitt  took  i^lace  in  1825,  while  she  was  residing  with  her 
great-uncle.  Robert  Harris,  in  the  ancient  Harris  house  on  Front 
street,  in  later  days  the  residence  of  the  Honorable  Simon  Cameron. 

One  of  her  brothers,  Rev.  Benjamin  J.  Wallace,  rose  to  eminence 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church  as  preacher  and  writer,  and  as  editor  for 
years  of  '' The  Presbyterian  Review."     He  died  at  an  early  age. 

Mrs.  DeWitt  married  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  but  her  mind  was 
already  matured  and  peculiarly  bright  and  strong.  She  entered  at 
once  and  very  heartily  into  the  work  of  the  church  and  until  her 
death,  fifty-six  years  later  she  was  an  honored  and  wise  leader.  For 
forty-two  years  in  the  ministry  of  her  husband  she  was  permitted  to 
stand  by  his  side,  in  the  home,  in  society  and  in  the  church,  and 
everywhere  helpful  and  beloved.  She  was  a  woman  of  rare  powers 
of  mind,  of  wide  information  and  admirable  judgment.  Her  home 
acknowledged  her  beneficent  sway.  Society  was  charmed  by  her  con- 
versational powers,  her  tact,  her  winning  courtesy  and  intelligence 
In  the  church  she  was  at  the  head  of  the  religious  and  benevolent 
work  undertaken  by  the  women  of  the  congregation.  For  about  fifty 
years  she  was  a  faithful  and  uncommonly  able  teacher  in  the  Sunday- 
school  of  the  church.  The  female  prayer-meeting  of  the  church, 
established  in  her  childhood,  received  her  hearty  co-operation  and 
regular  attendance  for  more  than  half  a  century.  Those  who  were 
favored  in  hearing  her  voice  in  these  meetings  testify  to  her  remark- 
able power  in  prayer.     Few  laymen   in  the   church  equalled  her  in 


368  Centennial  Memorial. 

power  of  expression,  range  of  thought  and  fluency,  joined  to  spiritual 
fervor  and  tenderness.  She  was  surrounded  through  life  by  those 
who  trusted,  admired  and  loved  her.  She  was  calm  in  temperament, 
hopeful  in  spirit,  broad  in  her  charity  and  judicious  in  her  utter- 
ances. Few  have  evinced  so  high,  so  tenacious  and  so  courageous 
faith.  Kind  and  liberal  in  her  feelings  and  words  toward  all,  she 
lived  and  died  without  enemies.  Though  suffering  severely  in  her 
last  days  from  physical  pain,  she  retained  all  her  faculties  of  mind 
unimpaired.  Her  trust  in  God,  her  composure  of  spirit  and  her  love 
towards  others  never  failed  her.  Death  found  her  peaceful  and 
serene  and  could  not  disturb  her  repose  in  God.  A  very  precious 
memory  survives  her  in  the  city  and  in  the  church  where  the  greater 
part  of  her  life  was  spent. 


REV.  THOMAS  HASTINGS  ROBINSON,  D.  D. 

Pastor  1854-1884. 


By   the   Editor. 


Thomas  Hastings  Robinson,  son  of  William  Andrew  Robinson  and 
Nancy  Cochrane  was  born  January  30,  1828,  in  the  township  of  North 
East,  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania.  His  ancestors  were  Scotch-Irish, 
those  on  the  father's  side  having  come  to  this  country  about  1730  and 
settled  in  Lancaster  (now  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania),  near  the 
Susquehanna,  and  those  on  the  mother's  side  coming  in  1802  and 
settling  in  Ripley,  Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.  Both  families  were 
from  the  region  of  Belfast,  Ireland,  and  were  from  time  to  time 
immemorial  Presbyterians  in  religious  faith.  Mr.  Robinson  received 
bis  early  education  in  the  common  school,  and  in  an  academy  at 
Ripley,  N.  Y.  Subsequently  he  entered  Oberlin  College,  Oberlin, 
C,  1846,  and  graduated  from  it  in  1850.  The  vacations  during  his 
•college  course  were  spent  in  teaching,  and  for  over  a  year  after  gradu- 
ation he  was  engaged  in  teaching  a  classical  and  English  Academy 
at  Ashtabula,  O.,  and  a  normal  school  at  Farrington,  O. 

Having  made  a  public  confession  of  Christ  during  his  college 
course,  he  determined  to  devote  his  life  to  the  gospel  ministry.  In 
tlie  winter  of  1851-1852  he  entered  the  Western  Theological  Semin- 
ary, Allegheny,  and  completed  its  three  year's  course  in  May,  1854. 
He  united  with  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  since  divided  into  the  Pres- 


*     A  Century  of  Pastors.  369 

byteries  of  Pittsburg  and  Allegheny,  June  15th,  1854,  and  on  the 
same  day  after  an  examination  in  his  college  and  theological  studies, 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  His  first  sermon  as  a  licentiate 
was  delivered  on  June  20.  1854,  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Pittsburg,  of  which  he  was  a  member. 

Upon  the  last  Sabbath  in  June,  the  27th,  1854,  and  the  first  Sabbath 
in  July,  1854,  and  on  the  Wednesday  evening  intervening  he  preached 
by  invitation  in  tne  English  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Harris- 
burg,  and  on  July  5th  he  was  unanimously  called  to  be  colleague 
pastor  of  the  church  with  Rev.  William  R.  DeWitt.  D.  D.  The 
call  was  accepted,  and  he  came  to  Harrisburg  early  in  the  following 
October  and  took  up  the  duties  of  his  office. 

On  October  17th  he  was  received  as  a  licentiate  into  the  Presbytery 
of  Harrisburg,  and  on  January  21st,  1855,  he  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled as  co-pastor  over  this  church.  For  the  first  ten  years  of  the 
co-pastoi-ate  Dr.  DeWitt  continued  to  preach  occasionally.  In  1864 
he  resigned  all  the  active  duties  of  the  pastorate,  and  now  Mr. 
Robinson  continued  to  serve  as  pastor  until  the  relationship  was  dis- 
solved by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  to  take  affect  on  the  fii'st  Sab- 
bath of  June,  1884.  He  continued  to  fill  the  pulpit  until  the  last 
Sabbath  in  June,  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  his  first  sermon  to 
the  congregation,  when  he  preached  his  farewell  discourse. 

In  November,  1883,  he  was  called  by  the  directors  of  the  West- 
ern Theological  Seminai-y  to  the  Re-Union  Professorship  of  Sacred 
Rhetoric,  Church  Government  and  Pastoral  Theology.  After  several 
months  of  consideration  he  accepted  the  call,  but  was  unable  to  enter 
upon  the  duties  of  the  Seminary  until  January.  1885.  This  position 
he  still  holds. 

His  residence  at  Harrisburg  for  thirty  years  called  him  to  many 
duties  outside  those  of  his  pastorate.  He  was  for  many  years  a  trustee 
of  the  Harrisburg  Academy  and  of  Wilson  Female  College  at  Cham- 
bersburg,  from  1875  to  1887,  a  trustee  of  Princeton  College  :  from 
1875  to  1881  a  director  of  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  and  for 
some  years  past  has  been  a  trustee  of  Washington  and  Jefferson  Col- 
lege and  of  Pennsylvania  Female  College. 

He  was  the  moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania  (N.  S.)  in  1861, 
and  at  the  reunion  of  the  churches  in  1870  was  made  the  stated  clerk 
of  the  Synod  of  Harrisburg,  and  held  the  office  until  the  consolida- 
tion of  the  four  Synods  in  Pennsylvania  into  the  single  Synod  of 
Pennsylvania,  when  he  was  chosen  to  the  same  office  in  that  body, 
and  continued  in  it  until  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  professor- 
ship, when  he  resigned,  having  held  the  office  fourteen  years. 

During  the  war   he  was  a  member  of   the  Christian  Commission, 


370  Centennial  Memonal. 

directing  its  work  in  Central  Pennsylvania,  and  serving'  in  its  behalf 
for  two  or  three  months  in  Virginia  and  Tennessee. 

In  1868  he  was  given  the  honorary  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  by 
Hamilton  College,  New  York. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Assemblies  (N.  S.)  of  1858  and  1866,  and 
of  the  reunited  Assemblies  of  18T3,  1882  and  1892.  And  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Alliance  of  the  Reformed  Churches  holding  the  Presby- 
terian system  that  met  in  London  in  1875  and  in  1889. 

On  May  10th,  1856,  he  married  Mary  Wolf  Buehler,  daughter 
of  Henry  Buehler  and  Anna  Margaretta  "Wolf.  Their  children  are 
Henry  Buehler,  who  died  in  infancy  :  Anna  Margaretta,  who  died 
December  23,  1881,  in  her  twenty-third  year  ;  William  Andrew,  Pro- 
fessor of  the  Greek  Language  in  Lehigh  University  ;  Eliza  McCor- 
mick,  wife  of  George  R.  Fleming,  Esq.;  Edward  Orth,  Thomas 
Hastings,  Jr.,  and  Mary  Buehler,  the  last  three  being  still  members 
of  their  father's  household  in  Allegheny. 

During  his  pastorate  he  became  greatly  endeared  to  his  congrega- 
tion, and  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  whole  community. 
The  action  taken  by  the  Church  a-short  time  prior  to  his  resignation 
is  illustrative  of  the  strong  hold  he  had  upon  the  affection  and  confi- 
dence of  this  people  throughout  his  long  and  useful  ministry  here. 
When  it  became  known  that  he  was  considering  a  call  from  the 
Western  Theological  Seminary  to  a  professorship  in  that  institution, 
a  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  held  on  Wednesday  evening, 
November  28th,  1883,  to  consider  the  matter. 

Mr.  Charles  L.  Bailey  was  elected  chairman,  and  Mr.  Alex.  Roberts 
secretary.  On  motion  of  Mr.  Samuel  J.  M  McCarrell,  a  committee 
of  five,  consisting  of  Messrs.  M.  W.  McAlarney,  Henry  Gilbert,  Adam 
K.  Fahnestock,  James  Fletcher  and  John  C.  Harvey,  were  appointed 
to  prepare  a  letter  expressive  of  the  feelings  of  the  congregation, 
which  committee  reported  the  following  : 

Harrisburg,  November  SS,  1883. 
To  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  D.  D. 

Very  Dear  Sir  :  The  congregation  of  the  Market  Square  Pres- 
byterian church,  having  heard  with  unfeigned  regret  of  your  call  to  a 
professorship  in  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  hereby  expresses 
its  gratitude  to  you  for  your  long,  faithful,  efficient  and  sympathetic 
pastoral  service,  as  also  its  unanimous  and  earnest  desire  that  you 
shall  not  accept  the  new  position  tendered  you,  nor  ask  a  dissolution 
of  the  pastoral  relation  with  us.  While  we  are  not  insensible  to  the 
honor  which  your  call  to  this  professorship  bears  with  it,  we  feel 
that  we  must  protest  against  its  acceptance  for  many  reasons,  among 
which  are  the  following  : 


A  Century  of  Pastors.  371 

1.  Your  long-  and  efficient  pastorate,  your  unswerving  fidelity  and 
boldness  as  an  ambassador  of  Christ,  have  given  you  a  commanding 
influence  in  your  city,  your  Presbytery,  your  State,  which  influence 
the  cause  of  Presbyterianism  demands,  shall  not  be  removed  from  its 
pulpit  and  active  pastoral  work. 

2.  Your  church  is  united  and  prosperous  under  your  pastorate  and 
your  labors  here  have  been  followed  by  a  continual  stream  of  blessed 
influence  and  result,  and  have  been  frequently  and  but  recently 
crowned  with  marked  tokens  of  Divine  approval. 

3.  Your  whole  ministei'ial  life  has  been  spent  with  us ;  you  have 
broken  to  us  the  bread  of  life  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century ; 
you  have  been  at  our  homes  in  seasons  of  joy  and  sorrow ;  you  have 
solemnized  our  marriages ;  you  have  wept  with  us  at  the  graves  of 
our  loved  ones ;  and  we  most  earnestly  ask  that  the  tender  ties  thus 
binding  us  together  shall  not  be  severed. 

4.  No  other  man  can  fill  your  place  among  us  as  acceptably  as  your- 
self and  we  do  not  wish  to  take  the  hazard  of  divisions,  bickerings 
and  strife  in  seeking  another  to  occupy  your  pulpit  and  assume  your 
work  in  this  church,  so  dear  to  you  and  ourselves.  In  the  light  of 
these  and  many  other  reasons  which  we  might  ui'ge,  we  earnestly  re- 
quest that  you  remain  with  us. 

And  in  testimony  of  our  gratitude  and  unwavering  alTection  for 
you  as  our  pastor,  we  cause  this  letter  to  be  subscribed  by  the  chair- 
man and  secretary  of  this  congregational  meeting,  and  by  the  com- 
mittee appointed  to  present  a  paper  expi'essive  of  our  views  upon  the 
subject  for  the  consideration  of  which  this  meeting  was  called. 

The  letter  was  unanimously  adopted,  the  meeting  adjourned,  and 
the  congregation  proceeded  in  a  body  to  the  house  of  their  much 
loved  pastor,  where  the  letter  was  read  to  him.  Dr.  Robinson,  in  re- 
plying, said  that  this  call  had  been  a  source  of  much  grief  to  him  ; 
that  his  whole  life  had  been  spent  in  this  city,  and  that  here  he  had 
hoped  to  end  his  days  ;  that  he  loved  the  people,  and  that  the  friend- 
ships formed  here  could  never  be  broken  this  side  of  the  grave.  But 
he  proceeded  to  say  that,  as  yet,  he  had  not  determined  which  path 
duty  required  him  to  follow — to  go  or  to  stay,  and  that  he  had  until 
the  first  of  the  year  to  decide,  and  in  the  meantime  he  could  only 
hope  and  pi^ay  that  the  Lord  would  enable  him  to  decide  as  his  heart 
now  prompted. 

When,  a  few  months  later  Dr.  Robinson  requested  Presbytery  to 
dissolve  the  pastoral  relation,  the  congregation  made  a  strenuous 
protest  against  granting  the  request.  Though  he  has  been  absent 
from  the  Church  and  city  for  ten  years,  yet  he  is  still  cherished  with 
the  sincerest  affection  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  is  always 
greeted  upon  any  of  his  frequent  visits  with  true  cordiality. 


372  Centennial  Memorial. 

His  wise  leadership,  unsparing  activity,  spotless  character,  left 
their  impress  upon  the  Church  and  made  it  the  strong,  broad,  gen- 
erous, aggressive  church  it  is  to  day. 

He  was  always  in  sympathy  with  all  movements  that  were  evidently 
in  the  interest  of  progress,  an  avowed  friend  to  the  temperance  re- 
form, though  not  a  political  i^rohibitionist,  and  a  courageous  leader 
in  every  good  cause.  As  "a  conservative-radical,"  so  he  speaks  of 
himself,  he  directed  the  life  of  the  Church  into  channels  of  the 
largest  usefulness  and  most  permanent  development. 


A  OEI^TUET  OF  ELDERS. 


By  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  D.  D. 


The  history  of  "  The  English  Presbyterian  Cong-regation,"  of  Har- 
risburg,  which  celebrated  its  centenary  February  ll-16th,  1894.  would 
be  incomplete  wnthout  the  following  sketches  of  the  Ruling  Elders, 
now  deceased,  who  were  connected  with  it  during  the  hundred  years 
and  helped  so  largely  in  giving  it  its  character  and  power.  For  a 
portion  of  the  facts  contained  in  these  sketches  we  are  indebted  to 
the  able  and  accomplished  Dr.  William  H.  Egle,  State  Librarian,  and 
author  of  a  number  of  very  valuable  historical  publications. 

The  first  Board  of  Ruling  Elders  in  the  Church  was  composed  of 
the  following  persons  :  Samuel  Weir,  Moses  Gillmor,  Adam  Boyd. 

They  were  elected  to  office  on  February  11,  1794,  and  on  the  follow- 
ing Sabbath.  February  16th,  they  were  ordained  and  installed,  each 
of  them  holding  office  until  his  death. 

SAMUEL  WEIR. 

Born  September  29,  1744. 

Died  August  15,  1814. 

Samuel  Weir,  the  eldest  son  of  James  Weir,  was  born  near  Bally- 
mony.  County  Antrim,  Ireland.  His  ancestry  was  numbered  among 
the  heroic  defenders  of  Derry  during  the  famous  seige  of  1689-1690, 
by  King  James,  when  almost  incredible  hardships  were  endured  in 
the  cause  of  Protestantism  and  freedom  of  faith.  Heir-looms  of  that 
memorable  time  are  still  held  in  the  family  and  are  greatly  prized. 
Samuel  Weir  came  to  America  in  1775,  and  located  in  the  township 
of  Derry,  Lancaster  county,  now  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania.  The 
Revolutionary  war  had  already  opened  at  Lexington,  and  British 
ships  of  war  were  scouring  the  seas,  searching  for,  seizing  and  im- 
pressing British  subjects  whenever  found.  The  vessel  on  which  Mr. 
Weir  came  was  boarded  and  searched,  but  by  a  happy  providence  he 
escaped,  and  was  saved  from  fighting  against  the  country  to  which 
he  was  coming  for  larger  liberties  than  he  had  found  in  the  old  world. 
A  year  had  scarcely  elapsed  before  he  was  in  the  army  of  the  Revo- 
lution, defending  his  adopted  country.  In  1776  and  1777  he  was  a 
First  Lieutenant  in  Col.  JohnRodgers'  battalion  (eighth)  of  Lancaster 


374  Centennial  Memorial. 

County  Associatoi'S,  rendering  important  service.  He  served  under 
General  Washington,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Delaware,  at  Trenton, 
Princeton,  Brandywine  and  Germantown.  At  the  close  of  the  war 
he  removed  to  a  farm  he  had  purchased  near  Harrisburg,  but  shortly 
after,  in  1787,  he  became  a  merchant  in  the  town,  and  one  of  the  most 
prominent  business  men  of  the  borough.  He  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  1794,  and  was  chosen  one  of  its  first 
Ruling  Elders.  In  person  he  was  of  stout,  heavy  build,  strong  and 
muscular.  In  civil  life  he  was  a  man  of  probity  and  honor.  In  the 
Church  he  was  very  active,  greatly  devoted  to  its  interests  and  the 
recipient  of  its  esteem  and  love.  He  was  noted  for  his  large  and  gen- 
erous hospitality  to  the  ministry  of  his  day,  making  his  house  their 
home  as  guests.  He  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  a 
son  named  James,  who  died  young,  and  by  his  second  wife,  Mary 
Wallace,  he  had  three  sons,  Samuel,  who  removed  to  South  Carolina, 
John  Andrew  and  James  Wallace,  both  of  whom  succeeded  him  in 
the  Eldership.  He  died  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his  age,  and  in 
the  twentieth  of  his  office,  as  Elder. 

MOSES  GILLMOR. 

Born,  September  6,  1749. 

Died,  June  10,  1825. 

Moses  Gillmor  was  born  in  the  township  of  Burt,  parish  of  Temple- 
more,  county  of  Donegal,  six  miles  from  the  city  of  Londonderry, 
province  of  Ulster,  Ireland.  Until  his  seventeenth  year  he  remained 
in  Ireland,  when  he  came  with  an  uncle  to  America,  and  settled  in 
Hanover  township,  Lancaster  county,  now  Dauphin.  Having  re- 
turned to  Ireland  on  business  connected  with  his  father's  estate,  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  broke  out  during  his  absence  and  delayed  his 
return  until  after  the  declai'ation  of  peace  in  1783.  The  next  year, 
November  1784,  according  to  Parson  Elder's  marriage  record,  he 
married  Isabel  Wallace,  third  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Wallace, 
of  Hanover.  When,  in  1785,  Harrisburg  was  made  the  county  seat 
of  the  new  county,  Dauphin,  Mr.  Gillmor  removed  hither,  purchased 
a  lot  on  Market  Square,  and  established  himself  in  the  business  of  a 
merchant,  which  he  carried  on  successfully  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  was  prominent  in  local  politics  and  an  influential  member  of 
society.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  is  said  to  have  been  an  elder  in  the  Mother  Church  of  Paxtang. 
Mr.  Gillmor  died  in  Harrisburg  in  1825,  after  serving  the  church  for 
thirty-one  years,  having  reached  the  age  of  seventy-six.  His  body, 
and  that  of   his  wife,    who   died  three  years  later,  were  buried    in 


A  Century  of  Elders.  375 

Paxtang  Church  grave-yard.  The  older  members  of  the  church  gave 
descriptions  of  him  to  the  writer,  as  he  was  before  age  had  bent  his 
form  or  impeded  the  elasticity  of  his  step.  He  was  a  man  of  fine 
personal  appearance,  tall  and  well-proportioned,  grave  and  dignified, 
and  wore,  as  was  customary  with  gentlemen  of  his  standing  in  society, 
the  cue,  cocked  hat,  short  breeches  and  silver-buckled  shoes  of  that 
earlier  generation.  He  was  a  man  of  stately  bearing  and  courtly 
manners,  and  his  tall,  manly  form  clothed  in  the  di-ess  peculiar  to 
"gentlemen  of  the  old  school,"  would  command  involuntary  respect. 
He  was  a  most  worthy  citizen  and  a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  sin- 
cere, incorruptible  and  straight-forward  in  all  his  dealings.  In 
Christian  character  he  was  decidedly  old  style,  and  would  be  regarded 
in  this  easier  age  as  severe  and  cold  and  Puritanic ;  but  in  his  rever- 
ent and  high-toned  piety  there  was  a  substantial  solidity  that  might 
bless  these  modern  times  were  it  more  frequent.  He  died  revered 
by  all. 

ADAM  BOYD. 

Born,  ,  1746. 

Died,  May  14,  1814. 

Mr.  Boyd  was  the  son  of  John  Boyd  and  Elizabeth  Young,  and  was 
a  native  of  Northampton  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  of  Scotch 
descent,  his  grandfather,  John  Boyd,  having  been  born  in  or  near 
Edinburgh  in  1690.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  the  so-called 
"  Irish  Settlement."  By  occupation,  he  was  a  carpenter.  He  was  in 
the  prime  of  early  manhood  when  the  war  of  the  Revolution  opened, 
and  entered  into  the  service  with  patriotic  ardor.  He  was  an  early 
associator,  and  received  a  commission  in  the  Pennsylvania  Navy,  and 
was  in  the  conflict  between  that  fleet  and  the  British  ships  in  May, 
1776.  He  was  subsequently  transferred  from  the  navy  to  the  army, 
served  through  four  campaigns  and  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Brandywine  and  Germantown  and  Princeton  as  an  officer.  At  the 
close  of  his  military  career  he  held  the  place  of  chief  of  transporta- 
tion. He  removed  to  Harrisburg  in  1783,  and  made  it  his  permanent 
home.  Mr.  Boyd  bore  a  high  reputation  among  his  fellow-citizens, 
and  was  often  chosen  by  them  to  positions  of  public  trust  and  honor, 
serving  as  the  presiding  officer  of  the  first  town  council,  as  County 
Treasurer  for  many  years,  as  County  Commissioner,  and  a  Director 
of  the  Poor.  He  was  honored  with  office  by  the  people  as  long  as  he 
would  accept  it.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  abilities  and  litei-ary  taste, 
decided  in  his  opinions,  industrious  in  habits,  and  of  strictest  in- 
tegrity. In  person  he  was  stoutly  built,  of  blue  eyes,  sandy  hair  and 
fair  complexion,  genial  in  countenance  and  courteous  in  bearing.    As 


376  Centennial  Memorial. 

an  officer  of  the  Church  he  was  greatly  esteemed  and  beloved,  enjoy- 
ing the  confidence  of  all.  His  death  occurred  in  the  sixty-eighth 
year  of  his  age  and  the  twenty-first  of  his  Eldership.  He  left  at 
death  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Rosanna  Boyd  Hamilton,  wife  of  Hugh 
Hamilton.  A  grandson,  Mr.  A.  Boyd  Hamilton,  still  survives  in 
honored  and  useful  age. 

At  some  unknown  period  between  the  years  1808-1812  probably,  the 
following  persons  were  added  to  the  church  Session  :  John  Stoner, 
William  Graydon.  No  record  remains  to  fix  the  date  of  their  election 
and  induction  into  office. 

JOHN  STONER. 
Born,  March  24,  1748. 
Died  March  24,  1825. 

John  Stoner  was  the  son  of  Jacob  Stoner  and  Juliana  Baker,  and 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  the  city  of  Berne,  Switzerland.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Hol- 
land. Fleeing  from  persecutions  abroad  they  came  to  this  country  and 
settled  in  Lancaster  county  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century. 
John  was  the  youngest  child  of  the  family,  and  was  educated  in  Phila- 
delphia. Returning  home,  he  remained  there  until  the  death  of  his 
father,  which  occurred  a  short  time  before  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  when  he  removed  to  a  farm  he  had  purchased  on 
the  Susquehanna,  about  three  miles  above  Harrisburg.  Shortly  after 
the  opening  of  the  war  he  sold  his  fai*m  and  raised  a  company  for 
service,  of  which  he  was  elected  and  commissioned  first  lieutenant. 
Most  of  the  expenses  of  equipping  the  company  and  of  its  term  of 
service  was  borne  out  of  his  own  purse.  The  company  belonged  to 
the  second  battalion  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rifle  Regiment,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Miles.  Mr.  Stoner's  first  commission  was  dated  March  15, 
1776.  He  was  promoted  captain  December  4,  1776,  and  transferred  to 
the  Tenth  Pennsylvania  Regiment  of  the  line.  He  resigned,  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health,  on  November  22,  1777.  He  was  a  hearty  and 
thorough  patriot,  ready  for  any  sacrifices. 

After  leaving  the  army  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Harrisburg, 
where  he  married  the  widow  of  Thomas  Murray.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Berryhill.  The  two  families  of  Murray  and  Berryhill  wei'e 
prominent  in  the  early  history  of  the  church.  He  was  an  active  citi- 
zen in  the  new  town,  taking  a  prominent  part  in  civil  afl'airs.  He 
was  chosen  an  Elder  at  an  advanced  age,  probably  not  less  than  sixty 
years,  and  held  the  office  between  fifteen  and  twenty  years,  dying  at 
the  age  of  seventy-seven. 


A  Century  of  Elders.  377 

Captain  Stoner  sustained  tlie  reputation  of  being  an  honest,  sincere 
and  hearty  Christian  :  a  man  of  very  kind  and  affectionate  disposi- 
tion, and  of  much  and  earnest  prayer.  He  served  Christ  in  humility 
and  faithfulness,  died  a  peaceful  and  happy  death,  departing-  to  the 
"Rest"  of  the  children  of  God.  Mr.  Stoner  was  the  third  of  the 
earliest  Elders  of  the  church  who  were  officers  in  the  Army  of  the 
Revolution. 

WILLIAM  GRAYDON. 

Born,  Sept.  4,  1759. 

Died,  Oct.  13,  1840. 

William  Graydon,  the  son  of  Alexander  Graydon  and  Rachel  Marks, 
was  boim  near  Bristol,  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  spent  his 
early  life  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  acquired  a  classical  education,  and 
studied  law  under  Edward  Biddle,  Esq.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  upon 
the  organization  of  the  county  of  Dauphin,  and  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  being  admitted  at  the  May  term,  1786.  He 
was  the  fii'st  notary  public  of  the  county,  was  a  justice  of  the  peace 
and  a  member  of  the  town  council  for  several  years,  the  president  of 
the  council  and  one  of  the  burgesses  of  the  borough.  He  was  the 
author  of  "  Forms  of  Conveyancing  "  in  two  volumes,  and  edited  ''An 
Abridgment  of  the  Laws  of l the  United  States  in  1802."  Mr.  Graydon 
was  well  educated  and  a  man  of  cultivated  literary  tastes,  and  in  the 
many  trusts  committed  to  him  by  his  fellow  citizens,  he  sustained  a 
character  of  unblemished  integrity.  He  was  highly  esteemed  as  a 
gentleman  of  the  old  school  in  his  manners,  courteous  and  refined,  of 
high  and  honorable  principle^,  and  in  the  church  and  the  walks  of 
Christian  life  a  man  of  true  piety  and  deep  devotion.  He  filled  the 
office  of  ruling  elder  between  twenty-five  and  thirty  years.  Mr.  G. 
W.  Harris  in  his  "  Reminiscences  of  the  Bar,"  says  :  '•  He  was  a  man 
of  medium  height,  of  very  gentlemanly  manners,  neat,  if  not  precise, 
in  di-ess,  of  dark,  lively  eyes  and  of  an  intelligent  countenance.  His 
portrait,  painted  by  Francis,  is  in  existence,  and  is  an  excellent  re- 
presentation. He  wore  a  cue  tied  with  a  ribbon  and  had  his  hair 
powdered."  He  was  humane  and  benevolent,  and  an  acknowledged 
leader  in  charitable  enterprises.  Of  his  children,  one,  Alexander 
Graydon,  became  an  elder  of  this  church  some  years  prior  to  his 
father's  death,  and  another,  H.  Muri-ay  Graydon.  Esq.,  has  been  an 
elder  in  the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian  Church  since  its  organization 
in  1858.  A  third,  William  Graydon,  M.  D.,  was  for  many  years  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Dauphin,  and  now  holds  the  same 
office  in  the  Memorial   Presbyterian  Church,    Philadelphia,   and  a 


378  Centennial  Memorial. 

daughter,  Rachel  Graydon,  was  the  wife  of  Hon.  Mordecai  McKinney, 
for  many  years  an  elder  in  this  ehui'ch. 

On  Monday  evening,  February  7,  1820,  the  following  persons  were 
elected  Ruling  Elders  of  this  church  :  Robert  Sloan,  Samuel  Agnew, 
M.  D.,  Joseph  A.  McJimsey. 

And  on  the  9th  of  April  succeeding  they  were  ordained,  and  in- 
stalled in  office. 

ROBERT  SLOAN. 

Born  17G9. 

Died  Dec,  1833. 

Robert  Sloan  was  born  in  Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county  (forrn- 
erly  Lancaster),  Penna.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  his  ances- 
tors coming  to  America  prior  to  1736.  His  father,  Robert  Sloan,  Sr., 
was  an  Elder  in  the  Old  Hanover  Presbyterian  church,  one  of  the 
land  marks  of  the  Scotch-Irish  settlement  in  Pennsylvania.  His 
grandfather  had  also  been  a  Ruling  Elder,  and  as  his  son  Alexander 
succeeded  him,  there  is  the  record  of  four  generations  in  direct  line 
of  Ruling  Elders  in  the  Pi-esbyterian  Church.  The  early  years  of  Mr. 
Sloan's  life  were  spent  on  the  farm  with  his  father,  but  manifesting 
a  genius  for  mechanical  pursuits,  he  left  home,  and  without  any  ap- 
prenticeship, entered  upon  his  life  work,  that  of  a  cabinet-maker. 
On  the  30th  of  March,  1799,  he  married  Sarah  McCormick,  of  Han- 
over, and  soon  after  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  joined  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Dr.  Milledollar. 
In  the  year  1812  he  returned  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  was  regarded  as  a  very  superior  workman, 
a  man  of  peculiar  mechanical  skill,  and  was  most  faithful  and  diligent 
in  business.  Mr.  Sloan  was  eminently  a  good  man,  a  Christian  full  of 
faith  and  prayer  and  good  works,  a  man  of  singular  modesty  and  up- 
rightness. He  possessed  the  confidence  of  the  community  where  he 
resided  to  an  unbovmded  degree,  and  they  who  knew  him  intimately, 
had  for  him  a  regard  that  deepened  into  affection.  He  was  a  most 
faithful  office-bearer,  always  at  his  post  in  the  sanctuary  and  the 
meetings  for  social  prayer.  In  the  matter  of  prayer  he  was  peculiarly 
gifted,  being  evidently  taught  of  God  and  blessed  with  an  unction 
from  the  Holy  Ghost. 

He  was  a  layman  of  wide  and  accurate  theological  knowledge. 
After  the  severe  toils  of  the  day  he  was  wont,  when  not  engaged  in 
outdoor  work  for  the  Church,  to  spend  his  evenings  in  reading  the 
standard  Christian  literature  of  the  times,  especially  the  sermons  and 
other  works  of  the  old  Puritan  divines.     The  doctrines  of  the  Pres- 


A  Century  of  Elders.  370 

byteriau  Church,  as  taught  in  hei*  standards,  he  heartily  embraced  as 
the  system  of  theology  contained  in  the  sacred  Scriptures,  and 
adhei'ed  to  them  through  life  with  unwavering'  fidelity.  It  may  be 
said  to  his  honor,  that  no  man  possessed  more  completely  than 
Robert  Sloan  the  confidence  of  the  Church  as  a  man  of  God,  noble 
and  blameless  in  his  uprightness.  He  was  of  a  thoroughly  Christian 
and  Presbyterian  stock,  for  beside  those  of  his  line  already  mentioned 
as  Ruling  Elders,  a  brother  served  as  an  Elder  in  old  Hacover  church, 
and  another  brother  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  of  Williams- 
port,  Pa.  Mr.  Sloan  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  and  in  the  thir- 
teenth year  of  his  Eldership. 

SAMUEL  AGNEW,  M.  D. 

Born  1777. 

Died  Nov.  2-5,  1849. 

Samuel  Agnew  was  the  son  of  James  Agnew  and  Mary  Ramsey,  and 
was  born  near  Millerstown,  Adams  county,  Pennsylvania.  His 
parents  were  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians,  being  members  of  the 
Associate  Reformed  church.  His  father  and  three  brothers,  uncles- 
of  Samuel  Agnew,  were  all  elders  at  the  same  time,  and  tradition 
says  in  the  same  congregation.  The  father  was  also  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  army  and  was  wounded  in  one  of  the  battles  in  New 
Jersey.  The  family  was  noted  for  intellectual  culture,  strength  of 
mind  and  decided  piety. 

Mr.  Agnew  was  set  apart  by  his  mother  for  the  ministry.  Trained 
under  the  best  of  religious  influences  he  became  very  early  the  sub- 
ject of  divine  grace.  In  the  later  years  of  his  life,  he  stated,  in 
answer  to  the  question,  "  When  were  you  converted?"  "  I  cannot 
tell.  I  cannot  recall  a  period  from  my  earliest  childhood  when  I  was 
not  a  child  of  God,  with  the  experiences  of  a  true  Christian." 

He  received  a  classical  education,  graduating  from  Dickinson  Col- 
lege in  1798.  On  leaving  college,  greatly  to  the  disappointment  of  his 
mother,  he  chose  the  profession  of  medicine,  studied  with  Dr.  Mc- 
Clellan,  of  Greencastle,  and  graduated  from  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania in  1801.  In  college  he  was  the  classmate  of  two  men  who 
became  distinguished  in  western  Pennsylvania,  Rev.  Francis  Herron, 
D.  D.,  of  Pittsburgh,  and  Rev.  Matthew  Brown,  D.  D.,  President  of 
Jefferson  College. 

Dr.  Agnew  fii'st  settled  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Gettys- 
burg, remaining  there  for  several  years,  and  winning  a  large  patron- 
age and  the  confidence  of  the  people.  While  there  he  married  Jane 
Grier,  daughter  of   Major  David   Grier,    of   the  Revolution,  but  in 


380  Centennial  Memorial. 

1804  he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  remained  until  1835. 
While  in  Harrisburg  he  became  disting-uished  in  his  profession  by  his 
"  Treatise  on  the  efficacy  of  kine  pock  inocolation  as  a  preventive  of 
the  contagion  of  the  small  pox."  He  originated  a  plan  for  the  gen- 
eral distribution  of  kine  pock  by  the  establishment  of  a  lottery  which 
proved  to  be  successful.  In  the  war  of  1812,  he  was  one  of  the  first, 
perhaps  the  first  officer,  who  offered  his  services,  and  that  of  a  com- 
pany comprising  the  very  best  men  of  Harrisbarg,  one  hundred  and 
twelve  strong,  to  Governor  Snyder.  As  there  was  no  call  for  men 
the  company  disbanded  in  1813.  In  March,  1835,  Dr.  Agnew  left  Har- 
bvu'g  and  after  a  sojourn  of  a  year  at  Lewistown,  Pa.,  removed  to 
Missouri,  and  while  there  became  an  elder  in  a  Presbyterian  Church. 
Meeting  some  reverses  of  fortune  he  remained  but  a  few  months,  re- 
turned east,  first  to  Pittsburgh,  and  thence  to  Philadelphia,  where  he 
remained  but  a  year.  In  1839,  he  went  to  Butler,  Pa.,  where  for 
eight  years  he  resided  with  his.  daughter,  the  wife  of  Rev.  John  R. 
Agnew.  Here  he  continued  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  by  his 
skill,  joined  to  his  labors  for  the  spiritual  interests  of  the  people,  won 
the  highest  favor.  He  became,  while  there,  an  elder  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  and  the  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  of 
the  Church.  The  Pastor  of  the  Church  in  that  place  thus  speaks  of 
him,  "His  memory  is  precious  in  Butler.  Thanksgiving  Day  was 
almost  turned  into  a  day  of  mourning  for  us,  as  the  news  of  his  death 
had  only  reached  us  the  day  before." 

On  the  removal  of  his  daughter  to  Greencastle.  Pa.,  in  the  spring 
of  1847,  Dr.  Agnew  accompanied  the  family  and  made  his  home  there 
for  two  years.  In  1849,  while  on  his  way  to  Temperanceville,  a 
suburb  of  Pittsburgh,  he  was  violently  thrown  from  a  packet  boat  into 
the  canal  and  i-eceived  injuries  from  which  he  did  not  recover,  dying 
on  Sabbath  evening,  November  25,  1849. 

Dr.  Agnew  was  a  ruling  elder  in  the  Church  at  Harrisburg  for 
fifteen  years.  FeWlaymen  have  been  better  fitted  by  natural  talents, 
by  education,  by  personal  character,  and  by  public  position,  than  Dr. 
Agnew  for  a  wide  and  permanent  influence  of  the  best  and  highest 
kind  over  their  fellowmen.  He  was  a  man  of  notable  qualities.  In 
the  eyes  of  the  world  he  was  one  of  the  marked  men  of  society.  Both 
in  social  and  professional  life,  as  well  as  in  the  church  he  was 
promptly  accorded  the  place  of  a  leader.  Possessed  of  a  sound,  clear 
and  vigorous  mind,  well  disciplined  and  polished  by  a  thorough  course 
of  collegiate  and  professional  studies,  a  man  of  great  activity,  of  fine 
bearing  and  of  a  refined  courtesy  that  made  his  pi'esence  always  wel- 
come, it  was  but  natural  that  he  should  stand  at  the  head  of  his  pro- 
fession and  exert  in  every  sphere  where  he  moved  a  controlling  influ- 


A  Century  of  Elders.  381 

ence.  He  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  medical  journals  of  his 
day,  and  was  often  called  to  make  literary,  scientific  and  religious 
addresses.  Both  as  writer  and  speaker  he  displayed  marked  ability. 
Generous  and  kind  hearted,  charitable  in  his  judgment,  affable  in  his 
manners,  uniformly  cheerful  and  hopeful,  he  gained  universal  respect 
and  friendship.  As  husband,  father,  and  friend;  as  neighbor,  profes- 
sional man,  and  citizen,  he  had  the  esteem  and  respect  of  all. 

But  it  was  in  the  Church  and  as  a  Christian  man  he  stood  highest. 
He  lived  a  life  of  steady,  uniform  and  consistent,  godliness,  making 
the  service  of  God  the  great  business  of  his  life,  seldom  allowing  any 
professional  duties  to  interfere  with  his  attendance  on  the  public  rites 
of  religion  or  on  his  duties  as  an  officer  of  the  church.  He  was  a  man 
of  public  spirit,  of  broad  charity  and  of  a  familiar  acquaintance  with 
the  great  religious  enterprises  of  his  day.  The  Sunday-school  and 
tract  societies,  and  temperance  organizations  of  the  time  ;  and  all 
benevolent  operations  within  and  without  the  Church  i-eceived  his 
active  and  earnest  support.  The  cause  of  Foreign  Missions  was 
especially  dear  to  his  heart.  He  was  elected  a  corporate  member  of 
the  great  missionary  organization,  the  American  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners for  Foreign  Missions  and  attended  its  annual  meetings  as  long 
as  age  would  permit.  His  religious  life  was  peculiarly  marked.  The 
testimony  is  very  strong  to  his  unquestionable  piety  and  devotion  to 
the  Saviour  of  men.  In  all  his  life  shone  forth  the  evidences  of  an 
abiding  and  unquenchable  personal  love  of  Jesus  Christ  as  his  Finend 
and  Saviour.  In  the  midst  of  great  trials,  involved  through  others  in 
pecuniary  difficulties,  reduced  to  extreme  poverty,  compelled  in  old 
age  to  struggle  for  earthly  maintenance,  he  still  was  strong  in  faith, 
giving  glory  to  God.  His  fervor,  his  child-like  confidence,  his  warm 
evangelical  spirit,  his  holy  importunity  and  his  scripturalness  in 
public  prayers  made  his  presence  most  welcome  in  the  meetings  of 
believers.  And  when  at  length  eternity  dawned  upon  him  the  serene 
and  calm  repose  of  his  heart  on  God  was  not  at  all  disturbed.  His 
departure  from  earth  was  as  calm  and  hopeful  and  beautiful  as  the 
clear  setting  of  the  sun  when  the  day  is  done.  Seldom  has  the  mem- 
ory of  a  man  been  more  precious  to  his  fellowmen  than  that  of  Dr. 
Samuel  Agnew. 

JOSEPH  A.  McJIMSEY. 

Born  December  16,  1780. 

Died  September  20,  1821. 

Mr.  McJimsey  was  born  in  Chester  county,  Fa.  But  few  records  or 
traditions  of  him  can  be  found.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  was 
educated  at  an  academy  in  Philadelphia,  learned  surveying,  and  for 


382  Centennial  Memorial. 

several  years  filled  a  clerical  position  in  that  city.  He  was  a  popular 
citizen  and  a  man  of  public  affairs  and  had  an  established  reputation 
as  upright  aud  honest,  a  man  of  integrity  and  wisdom.  He  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  State  Senate  in  Lancaster  in  1809,  and  when  the 
State  Capital  was  removed  to  Harrisburg,  he  continued  to  serve  in 
that  body  until  his  death.  Within  a  year  and  a  half  after  his  election 
to  the  eldership  in  this  church  he  departed  this  life  in  the  forty-first 
year  of  his  age.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  excellent  Christian 
character,  a  good,  exemplary  man.  The  late  Mr.  John  A.  Weir  who 
knew  him  in  his  own  youth  spoke  very  highly  of  him. 

At  an  election  held  in  the  church,  August  17,  1825,  the  following 
persons  were  chosen  Ruling  Elders  :  John  Neilson,  Richard  T.  Leech, 
John  C.  Capp. 

They  wei'e  ordained  and  inducted  into  office  September  11,  1825. 

JOHN  NEILSON, 
Born  June  16,  1780, 
Died  March  10,  1856. 

John  Neilson,  son  of  Robert  Neilson,  of  Scotch  descent,  was  born 
in  New  Castle  county,  Delaware.  His  parents  died  in  his  early  life, 
and  in  his  youth  he  resided  with  relatives  at  Wilmington,  Delaware. 
After  his  marriage,  he  settled  in  Middletown,  Pa.,  and  filled  for  some 
years  the  office  of  cashier  of  the  Swatara  bank.  Upon  the  removal  of 
the  bank  to  Harrisburg  in  1815,  Mr.  Neilson  came  with  it,  and  held 
his  office  until  the  bank  was  closed.  Subsequently  he  was  appointed 
Cashier  of  the  State  Treasury  and  held  the  position  for  twenty-one 
years.  He  was  a  faithful  officer,  rendering  most  faithful  service  with 
complete  fidelity  to  the  State  and  great  honor  to  himself.  He  was  a 
man  of  gentlemanly  manners,  of  pleasant,  fair  countenance  and  of 
quiet  and  an  unobtrusive  life.  He  continued  to  serve  the  church 
until  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1838.  The  closing  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  in  Baltimore,  where  he  died  March  10,  1856,  in  the 
seventy-sixth  year  of  his  age. 

RICHARD  TREAT  LEECH. 
Born  October  3,  1775. 
Died  August  26,  1850. 

Mr.  Leech  was  born  at  Cheltenham,  Montgomery  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  was  of  English  descent,  his  paternal  ancestors  having 
emigrated  from  Cheltenham,  Gloucestershire,  England,  in  1682. 
Purchasing  a  tract  of   land  in   the  Province  of   Pennsylvania  from 


A  Century  oj  Elders.  383 

William  Penn,  they  settled  upon  it  and  gave  it  the  name  of  their  old 
English  home.  Four  generations  possessed  the  land,  and  the  bodies 
of  these  ancestors  of  Mr.  Leech  lie  buried  in  the  old  church  yard  at 
Abingdon,  Pa-  Richard  Treat  Leech  was  so  named  in  honor  of  his 
step  grandfather,  Richard  Treat,  one  of  the  early  professors  of 
Princeton  College,  New  Jersey.  His  opportunities  for  education  were 
only  such  as  were  furnished  by  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood, 
though  he  subsequently  became  known  as  a  man  of  extensive  general 
knowledge  and  a  writer  and  speaker  of  more  than  ordinary  power. 
In  the  year  1809-1810  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  of  the  State, 
then  sitting  at  Lancaster.  Hei-e  he  married  Miss  Eva  Henrietta 
Steinman,  of  Lancaster. 

Returning  to  his  home  he  remained  there  until  called  to  Harris- 
burg  by  Gov.  Simon  Snyder,  in  1813,  to  fill  the  ofl&ce  of  Surveyor  Gen- 
eral of  the  State.  He  was  re-appointed  to  the  same  office  by  Gov. 
Snyder  in  1815.  During  the  war  of  1812-1814  Mr.  Leech,  with  evei-y 
clerk  in  his  office  except  one,  joined  the  army.  The  regiment  to 
which  they  were  attached  lay  at  York,  Pa.,  for  some  weeks,  but  was 
not  called  into  action,  further  than  a  march  to  Baltimore.  He  was  a 
member  of  Captain  Richard  M.  Grain's  company,  of  Colonel  Ken- 
nedy's regiment.  In  this  company  served  five  of  the  subsequent 
Trustees  of  this  church  :  Capt.  R.  M.  Grain,  First  Sergeant  Alex.  M. 
Piper,  Third  Sargeant  James  R.  Boyd  and  Privates  R.  T.  Leech  and 
Alex.  Graydon,  Jr.  Messrs.  Leech  and  Gi'aydon  were  also  subse- 
quently Elders  in  the  Church.  In  the  ranks  with  these  men  served 
other  members  of  the  congregation  :  Francis  R.  Shunk,  William  S. 
Findlay,  Dr.  Luther  Reily  and  others.  After  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  office  as  Surveyor  General,  in  1818,  he  went  to  Pittsburgh, 
and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  but  returned  to  the  State  capital 
in  1821.  In  1825  he  was  chosen  a  Ruling  Elder  in  this  church  and 
continued  to  serve  it  faithfully  till  1837,  when  he  again  removed  to 
Pittsburgh,  where  he  died  August  26,  1850,  in  the  seventy-fifth  year 
of  his  age,  having  filled  the  office  for  twelve  years. 

In  personal  appearance,  Mr.  Leech  was  tall  and  slender,  fair  in 
complexion,  with  bright  blue  eyes,  benign  in  their  expression.  His 
manners  were  courteous  and  attractive.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  abili- 
ities  and  of  very  firm  and  decided  character.  For  the  many  yeai's  in 
which  he  occupied  public  position  at  the  capital  of  the  State,  he  bore 
an  unstained  reputation.  In  all  his  official  relations  he  was  greatly 
esteemed.  He  was  an  ardent  lover  of  his  country,  and  in  a  letter 
written  by  him  when  he  was  in  the  army  he  expresses  his  readiness 
to  die  in  defence  of  his  native  land  and  her  liberties.  The  course  of 
public  events  was  watched  by  him  with  the  deep  and  jealous  interest 


584 


Cen  tennial  Memorial. 


of  a  thorough  christian  patriot,  and  every  violation  of  true  principle 
in  the  conduct  of  civil  and  national  affairs  gave  him  pain  as  a  blow 
struck  at  the  life  of  a  dear  friend. 

In  social  life  he  was  an  example  of  urbane  manners,  of  warm  and 
generous  friendship  and  of  generous  hospitality.  In  the  Church  he 
stood  high  as  a  counsellor,  and  a  faithful  member  and  officer.  He  is 
said  to  have  been  uncommonly  gifted  both  in  the  spirit  of  prayer  and 
in  the  fluency  and  elegance  of  his  language.  He  loved  the  kingdom 
of  Christ,  and  gave  to  its  welfare,  his  toils  and  prayers  and  cares.  He 
was  generous  in  the  support  of  its  ministry  and  of  its  various  benev- 
olent agencies.  Lowly  in  spirit,  sympathizing  and  faithful,  he  left 
behind  him  in  the  Church,  after  a  service  of  twelve  years  as  an 
elder,  the  fragrant  memory  of  a  noble  character  and  a  good  and  useful 
life. 


JOHN  CHARLES  CAPP, 
Born  1800, 

Died  March  3,  1876. 

Mr.  Capp  was  the  son  of  John  Capp  and  Catharine  Chamberlain, 
and  was  born  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  of  German  descent.  His 
father  was  for  many  years  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  was  a  man  of 
great  integrity  of  character  The  son  was  educated  in  Philadelphia 
and  brought  up  in  mercantile  pursuits,  but  came  to  Harrisburg  while 
yet  a  youth.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Sunday-school  of -this  church 
in  its  earliest  history  and  a  teacher  in  it  as  early  as  1817,  when  but  a 
boy  of  seventeen.  He  united  with  the  church  in  1820  and  was  looked 
upon  as  a  model  young  man  of  large  promise.  Such  was  his  activity 
and  zeal  in  the  religious  life  and  so  great  was  the  confidence  of  the 
church  in  his  piety  and  good  judgment  that  he  was  chosen  an  Elder 
in  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  His  subsequent  history  fully  con- 
firmed the  act  of  the  church  as  a  wise  one,  Mr.  Capp  proved  to  be  a 
most  worthy  man  and  valuable  church  officer.  He  was  ready  for  all 
labors,  active  in  duties,  earnest  in  prayer,  self-sacrificing  and  con- 
sistent in  all  his  life,  winning  for  himself  the  esteem  of  the  church, 
and  especially  gaining  the  confidence  of  the  youth  of  the  congrega- 
tion over  whom  he  exerted  the  most  happy  influence.  Very  few  of 
the  Elders  of  the  Church  have  been  more  beloved,  more  regretted  in 
their  departure,  or  have  left  a  more  enviable  memory  than  John  C. 
Capp.  After  a  brief  eldership  of  six  years  he  removed  to  Philadel- 
phia. From  1837  to  his  death  in  1876,  thirty-nine  years,  he  served  as 
an  Elder  in  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church.  In  1829  he  married 
Sarah  Singer  of  Philadelphia.     One  of  his  sons,  Rev.  Edward  Payson 


A  Century  of  Elders.  385 

Capp,  went  as  a  missionary  to  China,  and  died  at  Yokohama.  Oct.  20, 
1873.  Two  of  his  sons  I'eside  in  San  Francisco.  A  fourth,  the  young- 
est. Dr.  William  M.  Capp,  is  a  physician  of  prominence  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

On  October  6,  1834,  the  following-  persons,  James  Wallace  Weir, 
Alexander  Graydon,  Alexander  Sloan,  were  chosen  Ruling  Elders, 
and  on  Sabbath  morning  October  19,  1834,  they  were  ordained  and 
installed. 

ALEXANDER  GRAYDON, 
Born  September  18,  1791, 
Died  December  12,  1868. 

Alexander  Graydon,  eldest  son  of  William  Graydon,  an  Elder  of 
this  Chvu'ch,  and  Rachel  Marks  was  born  in  Harrisburg.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Harrisburg  Academy,  entered  the  hardware  trade, 
and  for  many  years  conducted  a  successful  business.  He  was  chosen 
an  Elder  in  1834,  and  served  the  Church  faithfully  until  his  removal 
to  Indianapolis,  in  1844.  At  Indianapolis  he  became  an  honored 
Elder  in  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  church  of  that  city,  holding  the 
office  until  his  death  in  1868. 

Mr.  Graydon  bore  an  enviable  character  as  an  earnest  Christian 
worker,  a  man  fearless  in  the  discharge  of  whatever  he  deemed  to  be 
a  duty,  even  at  the  cost  of  reproaches  and  pecuniary  sacrifice.  He 
was  early  known,  as  was  his  bi'other  Elder  and  life-long  friend.  .Tames 
Weir,  as  a  warm  friend  of  the  oppressed,  at  a  time  when  the  anti- 
slavery  movement  was  u  popular  and  obnoxious  in  the  State,  and  a 
heresy  in  the  Church.  To  be  an  Abolitionist  and  a  friend  of  the 
down-trodden  black  man  was  a  crime  in  the  eyes  of  the  great  major- 
ity, and  exposed  a  man  to  many  social  trials  and  insults,  often  inter- 
fering with  his  business  and  church  relations,  and  sundering  the  ties 
of  friendship.  Mr.  Graydon  was  unflinching  and  fearless  in  main- 
taining the  equal  rights  of  all  men  of  every  color  and  nation.  He 
was  honorable  and  fair  in  business,  faithful  to  his  vows  as  an  office- 
bearer in  the  Church,  studious  of  the  highest  interests  of  the  cause 
of  Christ,  and  was  trusted  by  all  as  a  true  man,  a  servant  of  God,  and 
a  lover  of  human  kind.  The  men  of  this  generation  can  scarcely 
imagine  the  amount  of  opprobrium  that  was  heaped  in  those  earlier 
days  upon  the  reformer  of  the  political  and  social  evils  that  had 
become  entrenched  and  strong  and  invested  with  legal  rights  and 
moral  respectability.  In  his  new  home  and  long  I'esidence  at  Indian- 
apolis Mr.  Graydon  continued  to  be  revered  and  honored  by  good 
men  for  his  sterling  Christian  principles  and  his  firm  and  conscien- 


386  Centennial  Memorial. 

tious  conviction  of  duty  towards  God  and  man.  In  the  good  provi- 
dence of  God  his  useful  life  was  spared  until  after  the  close  of  the 
war,  when  he  had  the  joy  of  seeing  that  he  was  on  the  winning  side 
in  the  great  conflict  of  righteousness  with  wrong. 

JAMES  WALLACE  WEIR. 
Born  August  9,  1805. 
Died  March  14,  1878. 

James  Wallace  Weir,  the  youngest  son  of  Samuel  Weir  and  Mary 
Wallace  was  born  at  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania.  The  father  was  one 
of  the  triumvirate  that  formed  the  first  Board  of  Ruling  Elders  in 
"  the  English  Presbyterian  Church  "  of  Harrisburg,  and  was  of  the 
sturdy  Scotch-Irish  people.  Mary  Wallace  was  of  the  same  origin, 
and  grandsires  on  both  sides,  Weir  and  Wallace,  fought  side  by  side 
in  the  gallant  defense  of  Derry  against  King  James,  1689-1690. 
From  such  an  ancestry  Mr.  Weir  inherited  a  mind,  strong  in  natural 
faculties,  keen  in  its  search  for  truth,  and  a  will  strong  and  positive. 
He  and  his  older  brothers  were  brought  up  on  the  Bible  and  on  the 
catechisms  and  the  confession  that  were  brought  hither  from  the 
mother  county.  The  home  of  his  childhood  and  youth  was  one  where 
serious  I'eligious  earnestness  was  commingled  with  household  love 
and  care.  Mr.  Weir  showed  while  a  mere  youth  the  effects  of  home 
training  in  his  mental  powers,  in  the  rapid  mastei-y  of  his  studies  and 
in  his  taste  for  the  most  solid  and  substantial  literature  of  the  day. 
Before  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was  a  fluent  writer  for  the  press,  was 
well  read  in  the  natural  sciences,  indulged  in  the  calculation  of 
eclipses  and  made  astronomical  drawings  of  a  high  order.  His  love 
of  study  and  reading  drew  him  toward  the  printing  office.  He  became 
journeyman  printer  in  the  office  of  John  S.  Wiestling  and  a  con- 
tributor to  the  paper  published  by  him.  After  his  apprenticeship  he 
spent  some  time  in  the  printing  office  of  Messrs.  Johnson,  Philadel- 
phia. While  thei^e  his  righteous  soul  was  gi^eatly  stirred  by  an  event 
that  he  witnessed  and  that  aroused  great  feeling — the  mobbing  of 
some  anti-slavery  men  and  the  burning  of  the  hall  where  they  had 
met.     The  scene  conflrmed  him  in  his  hatred  of  human  slavery. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  1833,  having  been  chosen  teller  in  the 
Harrisburg  Bank  he  accepted  the  position  and  held  it  until  October 
30,  1844,  when  he  was  chosen  its  cashier.  When  the  institution 
became  a  National  bank  in  1874  he  was  unanimously  elected  its 
cashier  and  held  the  office  until  his  death,  having  been  an  officer  in 
the  bank  for  over  forty-four  years.  As  a  bank  officer  and  financier 
he  gained  an  enviable  distinction  for  his  uniform  courtesy,  for  his 


A  Century  of  Elders.  387 

unimpeachable  integrity  and  for  ability  of  the  highest  order.  Few- 
bankers  in  the  Commonwealth  or  the  country  have  left  a  record 
equal  to  his  in  years  of  service,  in  successful  administration  of  affairs 
in  periods  of  financial  disaster,  and  for  such  rigid  honesty.  Through 
nearly  half  a  century  he  handled  millions  of  money  and  by  no  single 
act  of  his  ever  stirred  the  faintest  suspicion  against  the  purity  of  his 
dealings. 

But  not  alone  as  a  banker  was  he  distinguished.  As  a  man  among 
brother-men  he  won  universal  confidence.  Men  felt  that  they  knew 
him  he  was  so  transparently  unselfish,  reliable  and  sympathetic. 

He  was  gifted  with  rare  social  qualities,  and  a  graceful  wit.  with  a 
rare  knowledge  of  men  and  books,  and  the  events  of  his  time,  with 
refinement  of  manners,  which  gave  a  charm  to  his  home  and  his 
presence,  not  often  met  in  men  of  business.  This  kindly,  social 
nature,  moulded  by  divine  grace  made  him  foremost  in  the  reform- 
atory, benevolent  and  religious  movements  of  his  time.  The  poor 
and  the  lowly,  the  tempted,  the  fallen,  the  enslaved,  found  him  ready 
with  love  and  pity  for  their  woes,  and  with  a  hand  to  help  them  out 
of  their  sins  into  manliness  and  (^hristliness. 

His  literary  taste  and  ability  were  of  a  high  order.  He  wrote  for 
the  secular  and  the  religious  press,  was  a  contributor  to  the  Theolog- 
ical Eevieiv  of  his  own  denomination,  was  a  compiler  and  a  graceful 
and  facile  writer  of  hymns,  the  writer  of  several  religious  tracts  and 
Sunday-school  papers  of  value,  and  the  author  of  two  volumes  of 
prayers,  that  have  passed  through  several  editions.  For  over  forty- 
three  years  he  was  a  Ruling  Elder  in  active  and  devoted  service  in 
this  Church,  and  a  superintendent  of  its  Sunday-school  for  forty-three 
years.  He  was  a  life  director  of  the  American  Board  of  Commission- 
ers for  Foreign  Missions  for  nearly  twenty  years,  and  his  wise  and 
prudent  counsel  was  sought  there,  and  in  the  higher  courts  of  his 
own  Church  and  in  numerous  public  conventions.  His  conversion  to 
God  was  a  remarkable  one,  and  his  subsequent  Christian  life  was 
characterized  from  its  beginning  to  his  death  by  the  elevating  power 
of  Christian  principle  and  religious  faith.  He  was  above  all  things 
else  a  Christian.  It  moulded  all  his  life.  He  felt  the  awe  of  God 
upon  his  soul,  the  loving  awe  of  an  earthly  child  to  a  Father  infinite- 
ly holy  and  unmeasureably  good.  His  Christian  life  was  steady  and 
even  and  strong  as  the  stars  in  their  courses.  He  was  a  close  and 
loving  student  of  God's  word  and  his  wonderful  prayers  at  his  home 
altar  and  in  the  church  were  models  in  their  rich  quotations  of  Bible 
language. 

For  more  than  thirty  years  he  was  a  constant  sufferer,  often  from 
very  severe  pains,  but  under  them  all  was  one  of  the  brightest  and 


388  Centennial  Memorial. 

most  cheerful  of  men,  helping  others  by  his  buoyant  spirit.  He  was 
a  man  of  uncommon  beneficence,  giving  for  years  half  his  income,  and 
often  much  more  to  charitable  and  religious  purposes.  He  was  a 
large  believer  in  the  things  divine  and  eternal.  He  walked  by  them. 
He  lived  among  them.  They  wei'e  to  him  the  sublimely  real  things. 
He  had  a  firm  grasp  on  things  that  other  men  were  groping  after. 
And  so  his  life  was  a  steady,  triumphant  victory. 

This  church  was  peculiarly  dear  to  him.  Upon  it  he  bestowed  his 
affections,  his  solicitude,  his  labors,  his  gifts.  To  its  welfare  he  con- 
secrated all  the  years  of  his  rich  Christian  life  and  powers.  More 
than  any  other  man  he  moulded  its  character  and  inspii'ed  its  work. 

Mr.  Weir  was  mosl  happily  married  to  one  who  for  twenty-seven 
years  joined  him  in  church  labors  and  presided  over  his  home  witda 
engaging  manners  and  a  beautiful  piety,  Hannah  A.  (Fahnestock) 
Mahany,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  John  A.  Weir.  Her  death  preceded  his, 
and  with  his  departure  the  household  became  extinct. 

ALEXANDER  SLOAN. 
Born  October  9,  1802. 
Died  August  2,  1890. 

Alexander  Sloan  was  the  son  of  Robert  Sloan  and  Sarah  McCor- 
mick,  and  was  born  at  Harrisburg.  His  father  was  one  of  the  early 
Elders  of  the  Church.  The  son  was  educated  in  the  select  a'nd  private 
schools  of  Hari'isburg,  especially  under  Mr.  James  Maginness,  who 
was  well  known  as  an  eminent  mathematician.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  cabinet  maker  with  his  father,  and  after  his  death  conducted  the 
business  alone  up  to  1864,  and  from  that  date  for  several  years  with 
Messrs  Boyd.  He  was  chosen  an  Elder  of  the  Church  in  1834,  and  for 
a  period  of  fifty-six  years  continued  to  serve  in  that  capacity.  Mr. 
Sloan,  though  a  quiet  and  modest  man,  was  very  well  known  in  the 
city  where  he  had  spent  eighty-eight  years,  and  wherever  known 
there  was  unvarying  testimony  to  his  virtues.  He  faithfully  and 
most  acceptably  for  more  than  half  a  century,  discharged  the  duties 
of  a  Ruling  Elder,  giving  a  loving  and  efficient  service.  He  loved  the 
"  gates  of  Zion  "  and  was  seldom  absent  from  the  Sabbath  or  week- 
day services.  Mr.  Sloan  was  characterized  by  his  kindness  of  judg- 
ment and  of  speech  concerning  all  his  fellow-men.  He  was  genial 
and  warm-hearted,  ready  to  forgive  and  slow  to  wound  by  word  or 
deed.  He  lived  and  walked  among  men  with  a  warm  and  brotherly 
heart,  esteemed  by  all,  and  leaving  behind  him  the  record  of  a  con- 
sistent and  unblemished  life.     No  word  of  reproach  assailed  his  long 


A  Century  of  Elders.  389 

and  useful  life.  At  peace  with  all  men.  at  peace  with  God,  and  in 
comfoi'table  hope  of  a  blessed  immorality  he  passed  his  declining 
years  in  quiet  happiness.  He  was  the  last  in  the  line  of  a  band  of 
remarkable  man  who  were  spiritual  officers  in  the  Church,  entering 
into  its  service  in  the  first  half  century  of  its  existence.  He  served 
in  the  Session  with  twenty-two  of  the  Elders  of  this  Church  and  was 
beloved  by  them  all.  for  his  genial  brotherly  traits  of  character,  his 
wise  counsel  and  upright  life.  Mr.  Sloan  mai-ried.  September  19, 
1833,  Mary  Todd,  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  Todd,  of  Han- 
over. Two  of  her  brothers  were  worthy  and  acceptable  ministers  of 
the  Gospel.  Of  his  children  but  one  remains,  Sarah,  the  wife  of  H. 
Murray  Graydon,  Esq.,  of  this  city. 

On  November  5.  18-tO,  the  following  persons  were  elected  Ruling 
Elders  in  this  church  :  Samuel  Wallace  Hays,  Alfred  Armstrong. 
They  were  ordained  and  installed  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  December, 
1840. 

SAMUEL  WALLACE  HAYS. 

Born  October  30,  1799. 

Died  May  18,  1855. 

Mr.  Hays,  as  with  neai'ly  all  the  Elders  of  this  church,  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry.  Some  of  the  family  received  honorable  notice  for 
bravery  in  the  patriotic  wars  of  the  mother  land.  His  grand-parents 
came  hither  in  1789.  In  the  year  1819  Mr.  Hays  connected  himself 
with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Carlisle.  In  1821  he  removed 
to  Harrisbui'g,  where  he  resided  until  1825,  when  he  went  to  Phila- 
delphia and  spent  thi-ee  years,  returning  to  Harrisburg  in  1828  and 
taking  up  a  residence  here.  His  permanent  connection  with  this 
church  dates  from  that  time.  He  began  business  hei"e  and  carried  it 
on  successfully  thi'ough  the  rest  of  his  active  life.  Mr.  Hays  from 
the  date  of  his  confession  of  Christ  was  an  active  and  earnest  disciple 
of  his  Master.  When  in  Philadelphia,  and  still  a  young  man,  he 
taught  a  class  of  young  men  in  a  mission  Sunday-school  connected 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Janeway's  church.  It  was  called  ''The  Galilean 
Society."  Before  going  to  Philadelphia  he  and  John  C.  Capp,  a 
young  man  like  himself,  had  charge  of  the  first  Sunday-school  estab- 
lished among  the  colored  people  of  this  city.  Upon  his  return  to 
Harrisburg  in  1828,  he  organized  in  October  of  that  year,  in  connec- 
tion with  this  church  the  first  infant  Sunday  school  of  Harrisburg, 
and  continued  to  superintend  it  with  great  acceptance  for  nearly 
twenty-seven  years.  A  few  months  before  his  death,  failing  health 
obliged  him  to  give  up  his  charge.     He  died  in  the  fifty-sixth  year  of 


390  Centennial  Memorial. 

his  age  and  the  fifteenth  of  his  eldership.  For  thirty-six  years  his 
life  was  full  of  Christian  labors.  He  was  a  quiet  and  modest  man, 
during  his  last  years  a  patient  sufferer.  He  was  a  very  warm  friend 
and  lover  of  the  young,  kind  and  happy  in  his  intercourse  and  an 
amiable  teacher. 

ALFRED  ARMSTRONG. 

Born  February  14,  1801. 

Died  October  21,  1884. 

Alfred  Armstrong,  son  of  James  Armstrong  and  Mary  Stevenson, 
was  born  in  Carlisle,  Penna.  He  was  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  distinguished  Scotch-Irish  families  of  Cumberland  Valley. 
His  grandfather,  Gen.  John  Armstrong,  resided  at  Carlisle  and  was 
an  able  and  brilliant  leader  of  the  colonial  troops  during  the  Indian 
wars  of  the  last  century,  and  the  hero  of  the  famous  victory  over  the 
Indians  at  Kittanning  in  1756.  The  county  of  Armstrong  was  so 
named  in  his  honor. 

Mr.  Armstrong  was  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  graduating 
from  it  in  1823.  That  institution  was  then  a  Presbyterian  college, 
under  the  presidency  of  the  celebrated  Rev.  Dr.  John  M.  Mason,  and 
was  at  the  height  of  its  usefulness  and  power.  During  the  last  year 
of  his  college  life  Mr.  Armsti'ong  and  many  others  of  his  classmates 
and  fellow-students  were  subjects  of  an  extensive  I'evival  of  i^eligion — 
and  made  their  confession  of  Christ,  uniting  with  the  First  Presby- 
terian church,  of  Carlisle.  Quite  a  large  number  of  these  young 
men  subsequently  entered  the  ministry  and  attained  high  positions  of 
honor  and  usefulness  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Among  them  may 
be  mentioned  :  Rev.  Drs.  Geo.  W.  Bethune.  Erskine  Mason,  J. 
Holmes  Agnew,  George  A.  Lyon,  Daniel  McKinley,  J.  Chamberlain, 
John  M.  Dickey  and  others. 

Mr.  Armstrong's  life  was  devoted  almost  entirely  to  the  teaching  of 
classical  schools,  for  which  he  had  a  peculiar  fitness,  and  met  with 
large  success.  Several  years  were  spent  in  the  charge  of  an  academy 
at  Bellefonte.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1831  and  assumed  control 
of  the  Harrisburg  academy,  x^etaining  it  until  1846.  Many  young  men 
were  fitted  for  college  and  the  professions  under  his  tuition.  A 
large  number  of  the  leading  men  of  this  city  were  among  his  pupils, 
and  they  regarded  him  with  veneration  and  respect.  His  reputation 
as  an  educator  was  of  high  character,  and  his  training  was  thorough. 

He  united  with  this  church  at  his  coming  in  1831,  and  on  the  first 
Sunday  of  December,  1840,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  in  it  as 
Ruling  Elder.  He  continued  to  serve  the  church  until  his  removal 
from  the  city  in  1846.     Returning   to  Harrisburg   in   1862,  he   again 


A  Century  of  Elders.  391 

united  with  the  church  and  was  again  chosen  an  Elder,  and  installed 
in  office,  1868.  He  held  the  office,  serving  the  church  with  great 
faithfulness,  until  1871,  when  he  removed  to  Washington  city.  There 
he  resided  until  his  death  in  October,  1884,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year 
of  his  age.  While  in  Washington  he  held  a  position  in  the  Post 
Office  Department. 

Mr.  Armstrong  was  thrice  married.  In  1829  to  Mary  Rankin,  of 
Bellefonte,  daughter  of  John  Rankin  and  Isabella  Dundas.  He  mar- 
ried his  second  wife,  Anna  Carothers,  daughter  of  Thomas  Carothers, 
of  Carlisle,  in  1833.  His  third  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1863,  was 
Mary  Hamill,  daughter  of  William  Hamill  and  Dorcas  Galbraith. 

One  of  his  sons.  Lieutenant  James  Armstrong,  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg. 

Mr.  Armstrong  was  a  man  of  strong  character  and  commanded  the 
notice  and  respect  of  his  fellowmen  wherever  he  was  known.  He 
possessed  natural  powers  of  a  high  order.  His  mind  was  keen  and 
active  and  through  life  he  was  a  student  of  men  and  books,  of  the 
woi-d  and  the  ways  of  God  in  the  history  of  the  church  and  the  world. 
His  conversation  and  his  public  addresses  revealed  a  wise,  strong  and 
thoughtful  man.  He  was  also  a  man  of  sincere  and  thorough  conse- 
cration to  truth,  the  good  of  men,  and  the  triumph  of  God's  kingdom 
in  the  earth.  His  sympathies  were  very  broad.  The  rights  of  all 
men,  the  overthrow  of  all  forms  of  social  and  political  evil,  the  spread 
of  temperance,  the  preservation  of  the  Sabbath,  religious  education, 
in  brief  every  good  and  Christian  movement  enlisted  his  sympathies 
and  won  his  co-operation.  He  was  a  man  of  prayer,  gifted  and  earn- 
est, and  a  wise  and  reliable  counsellor  of  the  church,  and  was  always 
ready  for  duty.  That  he  was  called  twice  to  the  eldership  in  this 
church  and  was  chosen  to  sit  in  the  higher  courts  of  the  church  sev- 
eral times,  indicates  the  large  esteem  in  which  he  was  held.  He 
was  noted  for  his  dignified  and  courtly  manners,  and  was  beloved  and 
venerated  for  his  pure  and  steadfast  Christian  character,  his  un- 
swerving attachment  to  Jesus  Christ  and  his  stainless  life. 

On  Wednesday  evening,  December  10,  1844,  the  following  persons 
were  elected  to  the  Eldership  of  this  church  :  William  McClean, 
William  Root,  and  on  January  5,  1845,  they  were  set  apart  to  their 
office. 

WILLIAM  McCLEAN. 

Born  August  4,  1778. 
Died  December  23,  1846. 

William  McClean,  son  of  Moses  McClean  and  Sarah  Watkins  was 
born  in  Franklin  township,  Adams  county,  Pennsylvania.     His  an- 


392  Centennial  Memorial. 

cestors  were  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  his  grandfather  coming  to 
tliis  country  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century.  All  the  men  of  his 
father's  family,  five  brothers,  were  surveyors  by  profession.  Two  of 
them,  his  father  and  an  uncle,  were  employed  vmder  the  authority  of 
Great  Britain  in  running  the  famous  Mason  and  Dixon  line.  One  of 
his  uncles  was  Deputy  Surveyor  of  York  county  and  a  man  of  promi- 
nence, and  the  father  of  William  McClean  and  himself  assisted  him 
in  his  duties. 

Mr.  McClean  was  reared  in  the  church  of  Upper  Marsh  Creek, 
York  county,  which  was  then  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  John 
Black,  a  man  of  high  order  of  talent,  moral  courage  and  pulpit  power. 
The  father,  Moses  McClean  was  an  elder  in  that  church  and  was  a 
man  of  high  standing.  At  that  very  early  day,  in  the  close  of  the 
last  century,  a  temperance  society  was  organized,  one  of  the  first  of 
the  country,  whose  members  were  pledged  to  abstain  themselves 
from  strong  drinks,  and  not  to  furnish  them  at  harvestings,  house- 
raisings,  and  corn-hustings,  the  popular  gatherings  of  that  day.  It 
was  a  noble  pioneer  band  to  the  great  host  of  later  days. 

In  the  midst  of  such  moral  and  religious  influences,  Mr.  McClean 
spent  his  youth,  and  as  long  as  he  lived  spoke  of  his  early  pastor  with 
rapture.  In  1794  the  family  became  connected  with  the  Lower  Marsh 
Creek  Church,  which  for  forty-nine  years  was  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  Rev.  William  Paxton,  D.  D.,  an  ancestor  of  Rev.  William  M. 
Paxton,  D.  D.,  now  of  Princeton  Theological  Seminary.  Under  his 
administration  Mr.  McClean,  while  a  youth,  made  a  public  confes- 
sion of  Christ  and  became  a  communicant  in  the  church. 

Mr.  McClean  was  twice  married  ;  first  to  Sarah  McGinley  in  1800, 
who  died  six  years  later,  and  second  to  Hanna  McPherson  in  1816. 
His  children  became  persons  of  prominence— one,  Judge  Moses  Mc- 
Clean, was  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Gettysburg.  Rev.  Dr.  O.  O. 
McClean,  now  spending  the  closing  years  of  his  life,  after  a  long  and 
able  ministry,  in  Lewistown.  Pa.,  Dr.  Alex  S.  McClean,  of  Spring- 
field, Mass.,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  McClean  removed  to  Gettysburg,  Penna.,  in  1816,  and  about  the 
year  1829  was  chosen  a  Ruling  Elder  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
that  place.  In  1839  he  came  to  Harrisburg  and  served  in  the  office 
of  the  Surveyor  General  of  the  State  for  several  years,  removing  his 
family  hither  in  '841.  So  rapidly  and  completely  did  he  win  the  con- 
fidence and  love  of  the  church,  by  the  purity  of  his  life,  by  his  marked 
abilities  and  by  his  Christian  courtesy  and  earnest  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  religion  that  in  little  over  three  years  after  his  union  with 
the  church  as  a  member,  he  was  chosen  Elder  by  a  nearly  unanimous 
vote  of  the  people,  I'eceiving  one  hundred  and  twenty  votes  out  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five. 


A  Century  of  Elders.  393 

He  proved  to  be  the  man  for  the  place.  He  was  a  Christian  of 
spotless  life,  and  of  strong  and  ardent  faith,  amid  many  and  severe 
trials.  He  met  with  reverses,  afflictions  and  misfortunes,  but  abode 
unchanged  in  character.  He  was  a  man  of  large  benevolence,  giving 
out  of  his  limited  means  regularly  and  liberally  to  objects  of  Christian 
charity.  He  was  admirably  fitted  for  a  leader,  being  intelligent, 
active,  fluent  in  speech  and  a  prompt  and  wise  counsellor.  Above  all 
these  gifts  he  was  a  man  of  prayer  and  of  friendship  with  God.  His 
prayers  were  fervid  and  earnest,  clothed  in  chaste  language  and  from 
a  heart  warmed  from  on  high  and  a  mind  familiar  with  the  wants  of 
the  Church  and  the  world.  He  was  a  good  man,  greatly  beloved  and 
respected,  and  his  death  within  two  years  after  his  installation  as  an 
Elder  filled  the  Church  with  mourning  and  was  felt  to  be  a  great  be- 
reavement. His  pastor.  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  R.  DeWitt.  ever  spoke  of  him 
in  terms  of  uncommon  praise  and  love.  He  had  often  expressed  the 
desire,  if  the  Lord  willed,  to  die  a  sudden  and  painless  death,  and 
sought  to  be  always  in  readiness  for  it.  The  wish  was  gratified.  On 
December  26,  1846,  he  fell  suddenly  dead  in  the  market  place,  when 
in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  bis  age. 

WILLIAM  ROOT. 
Born  January  10,  1798, 
Died  August  25,  1848. 

"William  Root,  son  of  Josiah  Root,  was  born  in  Southington,  Con- 
necticut, and  was  the  one  of  New  England  descent  brought  into  the 
Eldership  of  this  Church.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  about  the  year 
1834.  and  was  engaged  in  the  tin  and  iron  tirade  until  his  death.  He 
was  a  man  of  very  large  and  muscular  frame  and  of  wonderful  vigor 
of  body,  of  great  weight,  powerful,  yet  active  and  quick  in  move- 
ment. His  feats  of  strength  were  long  remembered  and  rehearsed 
after  his  death.  This  peculiarity  led  in  some  degree  to  his  sad  and 
sudden  exit  from  life.  He  fell  when  about  to  lift  some  timbers  upon 
a  bridge  in  process  of  erection  across  the  Susquehanna,  and  death 
resulted  from  the  injury  sustained. 

In  the  gracious  and  extensive  I'evival  that  occurred  in  the  year  of 
his  arrival  in  Harrisburg  he  was  converted  and  made  a  public  con- 
fession of  Christ.  Mr.  Root,  though  not  a  man  of  much  intellectual 
culture,  was  a  very  earnest  and  active  Christian,  and  possessed  the 
entire  confidence  of  the  Church.  He  was  modest  and  retiring  in  dis- 
position, and  yet  had  in  him  the  stuff  of  which  heroes  and  martyrs 
are  made,  the  spirit  of  almost  unlimited  personal  sacrifice  for  the 
good  of  his  fellow-men   and  the  glory  of  the  Redeemer  whom  he 


394  Centennial  Memorial. 

served.  It  was  in  fact  the  distinguishing  trait  in  the  character  of 
William  Root.  Great  in  body  he  was  large  in  heart  also.  He  was 
ready  to  do  or  to  die,  prompt  in  every  duty,  cheerful  at  all  times, 
never  morose  or  disheartened,  and  his  name  was  promptly  given  a 
place  in  the  memory  of  his  brethren  and  on  the  honor  roll  of  the 
Church.  His  term  of  office  was  but  a  brief  two  and  a  half  years. 
The  two  men,  Messrs.  McClean  and  Root,  were  ordained  at  the  same 
time,  were  alike  honored  and  beloved  in  the  Church  and  were  alike 
removed  by  sudden  and  startling  death  in  about  two  years  after  their 
induction  into  office.  Mr.  Root  died  at  the  age  of  fifty,  leaving  his 
wife  and  an  only  daughter.  The  latter  is  residing  in  the  West, 
having  married  George  Bushnell,  of  Cromwell,  Connecticut. 

At  the  eighth  election,  on  June  20,  1855,  for  Ruling  Elders,  the  fol- 
lowing persons  were  chosen :  Mordecai  McKinney,  John  Andrew 
Weir,  Robert  Jackson  Fleming.  On  Sabbath  evening,  June  24th, 
they  were  ordained  and  installed. 

MORDECAI  McKINNEY. 

Born  ,  1796. 

Died  December  17,  1867. 

Mordecai  McKinney,  son  of  Mordecai  McKinney  and  Mary  Cham- 
bers, daughter  of  Colonel  William  Chambers,  was  born  near  Carlisle, 
Pennsylvania.  His  parents  resided  on  a  farm  and  wer©  of  that 
numerous  body  of  Scotch-Irish  who  were  the  first  settlers  of  Cumber- 
land Valley.  His  early  studies  were  pursued  at  Dickinson  College, 
where  he  spent  six  years,  graduating  while  quite  a  youth.  He  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Duncan,  of  Carlisle,  and  after 
his  removal  to  Hai'risburg,  completed  his  studies,  in  the  office  of  Hon. 
Amos  Ellmaker,  Attorney  General  of  the  State,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  May,  1817.  In  1821  he  was  appointed  District  Attorney  of 
Union  county,  and  October  12,  1827,  Governor  Shultze  appointed  him 
one  of  the  associate  judges  of  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  He  served  five 
years.  Subsequently  Judge  McKinney  turned  his  attention  to  the 
compilation  of  law  books  and  published  "  McKinney 's  Pennsylvania 
Tax  Laws,'"  and  other  works  of  value  to  the  profession.  Later  still 
in  life  he  published  a  volume  of  labor,  research  and  worth,  entitled, 
"  Our  Government,'"  an  explanatory  statement  of  the  system  of  gov- 
ernment in  this  country  in  its  various  departments  of  the  State  and 
the  Nation.  He  was  a  man  of  extended  and  accurate  knowledge  in 
his  profession,  an  honest  and  conscientious  counsellor,  but  so  modest 
and  retiring  that  he  shrank  from  the  public  contests  of  the  bar. 

Mr.    McKinney   married  Rachel    Graydon,    daughter    of    William 


yl  Century  of  Elders.  395 

Graydon.  Her  death  occurred  at  Harrisburg-.  April  12,  1856.  Mr. 
Mckinney  principally  wi-ought  his  mission  in  the  world  by  his  Chris- 
tian life  and  character.  His  life  as  a  man  and  a  citizen  was  com- 
pletely transfused  by  his  religion,  sanctified  and  elevated  by  it.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  guileless  of  men,  a  man  of  sterling  honesty  and 
conscientiousness,  and  was  remarkably  free  from  selfishness  and 
pride,  spending  all  his  years  in  comparative  poverty,  no  more  con- 
tented, trusting  and  happy  man  walked  the  streets  of  the  city.  He 
was  a  friend  to  all  that  was  venerable  and  good,  a  defender  of  law, 
and  a  supporter  of  all  that  pi'omised  to  promote  the  welfare  of  society. 

Though  he  could  give  but  little  he  was  distinguished  as  a  philan- 
thropist, giving  what  is  often  far  better  than  money,  time  and  atten- 
tion and  his  most  hearty  sympathy.  A  true-hearted  man,  he 
"counted  nothing  foreign  to  him  that  was  human."  giving  in  genuine 
unselfishness  a  faithful  and  earnest  devotion  to  the  outcasts  and 
Pariahs  of  society.  He  knew  no  ambition  beyond  the  simple  doing  of 
right,  and  though  so  lowly  and  unassuming  in  all  things  else,  in  this 
he  was  as  brave  a  man  as  ever  faced  an  enemy.  No  notions  of  policy 
or  of  expediency  ever  swerved  him  from  his  course.  He  was  the 
friend  of  the  slave,  of  the  poor,  of  the  despised,  and  his  loyalty  to 
their  rights  and  wants  merited  universal  admiration.  And  touching 
as  was  the  tribute  to  his  worth  when  on  the  day  of  his  burial,  the 
officers  of  the  court  and  members  of  the  bar  at  their  head,  the  presi- 
dent judge  passed  beside  his  coffin,  taking  their  last  and  silent  look 
and  giving  their  unspoken  farewell  to  their  old  friend  and  associate 
who  died  as  poor  in  worldly  goods  as  he  was  morally  great,  it  was  by 
no  means  so  noble  and  so  impressive  a  testimony  to  his  goodness  and 
worth  as  when  the  long  procession  of  parents  and  children  fi'om  the 
colored  population  of  this  city  passed,  and  with  the  touching 
eloquence  of  sobs  and  tears  told  all,  that  they  had  lost  their  best 
earthly  friend. 

It  is,  however,  as  a  devout  Christian  that  Mr.  McKinney  w-ill  chiefly 
and  permanently  live  in  the  history  of  the  Church.  For  half  a  cen- 
tury he  was  an  active  member  of  its  communion,  for  fourteen  years  a 
member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and  for  thirteen  years  a  Ruling  Elder. 
The  Presbyterian  Church  was  his  by  descent,  by  education,  by  love 
of  its  doctrines  and  order.  It  was  a  pride  and  a  pleasui'e  to  him  to 
sit,  as  he  was  permitted  to  do,  in  her  various  courts,  the  Presbytery, 
the  Synod  and  the  General  Assembly. 

Judge  McKinney  was  a  great  student  of  the  Bible.  His  brethren 
of  the  bar  were  wont  to  find  open  on  the  table  where  lay  his  commen- 
tai'ies  on  human  law,  the  volume  of  Divine  Law.  and  with  its  contents 
he  was  more  familiar  than  with  any  work  of  human  origin.  He  was 
a  theologian  of  the  Scriptures. 


396 


Centennial  Memorial. 


For  many  years  most  of  his  active  christian  labors  were  given  freely, 
and  as  the  chief  reward  the  pleasure  of  doing-  good,  to  the  colored 
people  of  the  city.  He  sought  no  public  notice.  He  was  ever  at  his 
post.  His  life  was  a  life  with  God.  A  life  of  kind  thoughts,  pious 
deeds,  charity  toward  men  and  of  trust  toward  God.  It  was  closed 
by  a  calm  and  quiet  death  of  entire  trust  in  the  Great  Redeemer,  for 
whose  speedy  second  coming  he  had  longingly  waited.  His  death 
was  the  result  of  injuries  from  a  street  car,  and  when  he  was  told  by 
his  pastor  that  in  a  few  hours  he  would  stand  amid  the  scenes  of 
eternity,  he  heard  the  announcement  with  all  the  composure  and 
calmness  of  one  who  hears  of  the  most  common  event  of  life.  The 
half  a  century  of  prayers,  labors,  counsels  and  godly  living  that  Judge 
McKinney  gave  to  this  Church  are  of  inestimable  worth. 

JOHN  ANDREW  WEIR. 
Born  January  10,  1802. 
Died  October  10,  1881. 

John  A.  Weir,  second  son  of  Samuel  Weir,  and  Mary  Wallace,  was 
born  at  Harrisburg.  His  father  was  one  of  the  first  three  Elders  of 
the  Church,  and  a  man  of  high  character.  The  mother,  who  sur- 
vived her  husband  several  years,  was  greatly  esteemed  by  her  sons, 
and  by  all  as  a  woman  of  great  worth.  Mr.  Weir  received  an  educa- 
tion in  the  private  schools  of  the  borough  and  in  the  Harrisburg 
Academy.  The  best  teaching  he  had,  by  his  own  testimony,  came 
from  his  mother.  He  learned  coach-making,  but  did  not  pursue  the 
trade  to  any  large  extent  in  subsequent  life,  taking  up  the  hardware 
business  in  preference  and  somewhat  later  connecting  with  it  the 
drug  business,  associating  with  him  his  nephew,  Daniel  W.  Gross. 

During  the  administration  of  Gov.  Ritner,  1835-1837,  he  served  as 
a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth.  In  1840 
he  was  elected  Prothonotary  of  Dauphin  county,  and  held  the  position 
for  six  years.  While  serving  in  this  position  he  became  a  Director 
of  the  Harrisburg  bank,  and  later  a  teller  in  it,  and  so  continued  until 
1880,  when  the  infirmities  of  age  obliged  him  to  retire.  He  was  also 
from  1850  to  1880  the  Treasurer  of  the  State  Lunatic  Hospital  at 
Harrisburg.  His  peculiar  fatness  for  such  duties  brought  him  many 
trusts  as  administrator  and  executor  of  estates  and  the  guardian  of 
minor  children.  In  his  many  and  difficult  responsibilities  he  proved 
to  be  eminently  worthy  of  all  confidence. 

He  made  a  public  confession  of  Christ  in  the  year  1820  at  the  age 
of  eighteen,  and  for  sixty-one  years,  as  a  member  of  the  church, 
maintained  a  Christian  character  that  was  worthy  of  all  praise  and 


A  Centunj  of  Elders.  397 

imitation.  He  was  summoned  to  many  duties  by  the  Church,  serving- 
it  as  a  Trustee  for  sixteen  years,  as  the  Treasurer  of  the  cong-rcga- 
tion  for  a  number  of  years,  as  Superintendent  of  the  infant  school 
about  fifteen  yeai*s,  and  from  1855,  until  his  death,  a  period  of  twenty- 
six  years,  as  an  honored  and  beloved  Ruling  Elder.  For  a  long  time, 
with  his  first  wife,  he  was  a  member  of  the  church  choir.  They  were 
both  excellent  singers. 

He  was  above  most  men  a  genuine  lover  of  children,  and  a  model 
in  all  his  intercourse  with  them.  He  was  beloved  and  held  in 
memory  by  all  who  were  under  his  training. 

In  the  graver  duties  of  a  Ruling  Elder,  he  was  a  wise  and  safe 
counsellor  in  the  Session  and  in  the  higher  courts  of  the  Church.  In 
private  and  iKiblic  life  his  character  was  conspicuous  for  its  beautiful 
consistency  and  uprightness.  No  man  in  the  city  had  a  more  unsul- 
lied reputation  for  all  manly  Christian  virtues  than  John  Andrew 
Weir.  He  was  a  man  of  large  and  unfailing  liberality.  He  kept 
himself  informed  of  wants  of  the  Church  and  of  the  world  and  was 
prompt  to  meet  them  to  the  fulness  of  his  ability.  He  was  a  great 
and  true  friend  of  all  moral  reforms,  steadfast  and  devoted  to  the 
temperance  cause,  closely  connected  with  Bible  societies  from  early 
manhood,  one  of  the  first  and  staunchest  friends  of  the  anti-slavery 
movement  and  of  the  negro  in  the  North.  He  had  also  the  courage 
of  his  convictions.  He  was  one  of  the  best  and  truest  of  friends, 
genial,  cheerful  and  brotherly.  Wherever  he  went  he  brought  sun- 
shine and  peace.  The  house  was  brighter  after  he  had  been  there, 
faces  were  sunnier,  hearts  were  lighter.  He  came  with  a  benediction 
and  left  with  a  blessing.  He  was  one  of  the  gentlest  of  men.  Life 
has  been  happier,  its  burdens  have  been  easier,  its  crosses  lighter, 
and  faith  in  God  and  faith  in  man  have  grown  stronger  for  many  a 
fellow  mortal  because  of  the  true  and  Christian  friendship  of  John 
Andrew  Weir. 

Mr.  Weir  was  twice  married,  first  to  Catharine  Wiestling.  sister  of 
the  late  George  P.  Wiestling,  and  second  to  Matilda  M.  Fahnestock, 
sister  of  the  late  Adam  K.  Fahnestock.  Of  the  family  of  Mr.  Weir 
but  two  survive.  Misses  Anna  C.  Weir  and  Sybil  M.  Weir,  who  reside 
in  the  family  home,  for  many  years  the  residence  of  Mr.  Weir. 

ROBERT  JACKSON  FLEMING. 

Born  November  16,  1803. 

Died  December  2,  1874. 

Robert  J.  Fleming,  the  son  of  Samuel  Fleming  and  Sai-ah  Becket, 
was  born  in  Hanover  township,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania. 
He  received  an  academic  education,  and  while  yet  a  young  man,  in 


398  Centennial  Memorial. 

1829,  became  a  teacher  and  lecturer  on  English  grammar,  and  took  a 
trip  to  the  west,  lecturing-  on  his  favorite  topic.  His  parents  had  re- 
moved in  1813  to  Hanover,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  whence  came  a 
number  of  the  earlier  families  of  this  church.  Mr.  Fleming  was  a 
lover  and  also  a  teacher  of  vocal  music,  and  was  the  chorister  of  the 
church  from  1834  to  1850.  In  1834  he  established  the  coach-making 
business  on  a  large  scale  in  Harrisburg,  and  continued  it  with  success 
until  June  15,  1865,  when  his  entire  establishment  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  He  built  at  his  shop  the  first  eight-wheel  passenger  car  which 
ran  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  between  Columbia  and  Philadelphia. 
Also  the  first  on  the  Williamsport  and  Elmira  railroad,  taking  it  up 
the  canal  on  a  flat  boat.  In  1861  he  was  appointed  notary  public,  and 
held  the  office  until  his  death,  doing  the  business  of  the  HarrisbiH'g 
National  Bank  in  this  capacity.  He  married  June  5,  1845,  Sarah  Ann 
Poor,  of  McConnnelsville,  O. 

Mr.  Fleming  was  deservedly  honored  by  his  fellowmen  as  an  up- 
right and  enterprising  citizen,  and  a  man  of  intelligence  and  high 
moral  character.  He  united  with  this  church  on  confession  of  his 
faith,  March  31,  1842,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  a  Ruling  Elder 
June  24,  1855. 

Mr.  Fleming  was  earnest  and  active  in  the  work  of  the  church, 
being  gi^eatly  interested  in  the  young.  For  many  years  also,  with  his 
wife  and  others,  he  devoted  himself  to  Christian  work  among  the 
colored  population  of  the  city.  He  was  a  hearty  oiDponent  of  human 
slavery.  Self-denying,  generous,  true-hearted,  he  wrought  good  and 
noble  work  for  Christ  and  his  cause.  He  died  in  the  seventy-first 
year  of  his  age. 

At  a  meeting  held  for  the  purpose  on  February  19,  1868,  the  follow- 
ing persons  were  elected  to  the  office  of  Ruling  Eldo-  :  Alfred 
Armstrong,  Dr.  James  Fleming,  William  S.  Shaffer,  Walter  F. 
Fahnestock,  jr. 

The  latter  three  were  duly  ordained  and  installed  on  Sabbath 
evening  March  8,  1858.  Mr.  Armstrong  being  already  ordained,  was 
installed  at  the  same  time. 

JAMES  FLEMING,  M.  D.,  D.  D.  S., 

Born  June  25,  1810, 

Died  January  30,  1875. 

James  Fleming,  son  of  Samuel  Fleming  and  Sai'ah  Becket,  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  1812  his  parents 
removed  to  Hanover  township,  Dau^jhin  county,  Pennsylvania.  He 
received  a  good  education,  being  ambitious  to  excel  in  his  studies. 


A  Centnrij  of  Elders.  399 

Thrown  upon  his  own  resources  at  the  early  age  of  eighteen,  he 
resolved  to  help  himself  by  alternately  acting  as  teacher  and  pupil. 
He  pursued  this  course  for  seven  years  and  became  conversant  with 
the  higher  mathematics,  with  one  or  more  of  the  ancient  languages 
and  with  French.  He  taught  in  various  schools  and  academies 
spending  some  time  in  the  States  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky.  In  1838 
he  graduated  with  honor  from  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Phila- 
delphia, and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Harrisbui-g. 
For  some  years  he  practiced  his  profession,  but  finding  the  duties  too 
severe  for  a  slender  constitution  his  attention  was  drawn  to  the 
science  of  dental  surgery,  then  comparatively  in  its  infancy.  He 
went  to  Philadelphia  and  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
science,  and  returning  to  Harrisburg  he  met  with  a  deserved  success 
in  his  new  profession  and  prosecuted  it  through  the  i*est  of  his  life. 
He  was  one  of  the  originators  of  the  Pennsylvania  Association  of 
Dental  Surgeons,  aided  in  establishing  the  first  Dental  College  in 
Philadelphia,  it  being  the  second  of  its  kind  incorporated  in  this 
country.  He  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  both  medical  and  dental 
journals  and  occasionally  to  the  newspaper  press.  He  was  tendered 
a  professorship  in  the  Dental  College  at  Philadelphia,  but  declined 
it  He  twice  i-eceived  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Dental 
Surgery.  He  was  also  a  director  in  the  Harrisburg  National  Bank, 
and  President  of  the  Board  of  School  Directors,  showing  himself  to 
be  a  man  of  public  spirit  and  ability. 

He  made  a  profession  of  his  faith  in  Christ  and  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church  March  2,  1843.  He  at  once  entered  upon  Chris- 
tian work  and  was  for  many  years  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday 
school.  He  was  ordained  an  Elder  in  the  Church  March  8,  1868,  and 
met  his  duties  with  fidelity  until  his  death,  eight  years  later.  He 
was  a  man  of  pure  and  noble  character,  retiring  in  his  ways,  gentle- 
manly, obliging  and  courteous  to  all.  He  was  a  man  of  generous 
instincts  and  actions,  a  man  of  sincerest  piety  and  of  real  worth.  He 
married,  in  1852,  Jeannette  Street,  daughter  of  Col.  Thaddeus  Street 
and  Martha  Davenport  Reynolds,  a  lineal  descendent  of  Rev.  John 
Davenport,  the  founder  of  New  Haven.  The  widow  and  two  children, 
Mrs.  D.  P.  Bruner,  of  Philadelphia,  and  William  R.  Fleming,  of  New 
York  survive  him. 

WALTER  FRANKLIN  FAHNESTOCK,  Jr. 

Born  October  8,  1844. 

Died  May  19,  1879. 

Mr.  Fahnestock  was  the  son  of  Walter  F.  Fahnestock  and  Louisa 
C.    Heisley,   and   was   born   at    Harrisburg.     He    united  with  this 


400  Centennial  Memorial. 

Church  on  July  2,  1865,  and  was  active  in  the  work  of  the  Church 
and  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  He  gave  \a.vge 
promise  of  usefulness  and  of  success  and  was  called  into  the  Eldership 
and  ordained  March  8,  1868.  After  a  brief  service  of  four  years  he 
removed  to  Philadelphia,  severing-  his  connection  with  the  church. 
He  died  while  still  comparatively  young  at  his  father's  house  in 
Harrisburg. 

Mr.  William  Stowe  Shaffer  served  the  Church  for  twenty-one  years 
with  sincere  devotion.  Since  the  organization  of  the  Olivet  Church 
in  1889,  he  has  been  an  active  and  earnest  Elder  in  that  organization. 

On  April,  15,  1877,  the  following  persons  were  added  to  the  goodly 
roll  of  the  Eldership  of  the  Church  by  ordination  and  installation. 
They  were  chosen  to  the  office  on  April  4  :  James  Franklin  Purvis, 
Samuel  John  Milton  McCarrell,  Jacob  Augustus  Miller,  Gilbert 
Martin  McCauley.  After  serving  the  Church  with  ability  and  univer- 
sal acceptableness  until  December  26,  1882,  Mr.  Purvis  removed  to 
Kansas,  where  he  still  resides.  He  has  been  a  Ruling  Elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Holton,  Kansas,  since  a  short  while  after 
his  removal  there.  The  remaining  three  are  still  amid  the  active 
duties  of  the  office.  To  them  were  added  by  ordination  and  installa- 
tion on  March  20,  1887,  John  Craig  Harvey  and  John  Henry  Spicer. 
The  complete  roll  of  the  ruling  eldership  contains  thirty  names. 
The  foregoing  record  will  show  what  noble  and  able  men  have 
served  God  and  the  Church  in  that  office. 


THE  CHARTER  OF  THE  CORPORATION. 


To  all  whom  these  presents  may  come  :  know  ye,  that  we,  whose 
names  are  hei-cunto  subscribed,  citizens  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania,  having  associated  together  for  the  purpose  of  worship- 
ing Almighty  God,  agreeably  to  the  gospel  of  our  Saviour,  Jesus 
Christ,  and  desirous  of  acquiring  the  powers  and  immunities  of  a 
body  politic  in  law  according  to  the  form  of  an  act  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  said  Commonwealth,  passed  the  sixth  day  of  April, 
Anno  Domini,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-one,  do  hereby 
declare  that  we  have  associated  ourselves  together  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid,  by  the  name,  style  and  title,  and  under  the  articles  and 
conditions  following,  that  is  to  say  : 

Article  I.  The  name,  style  and  title  shall  be  The  English 
Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Harrisburg. 

Article  II.  The  subscribers  and  such  others  being  citizens  of  the 
said  Commonwealth  as  shall  hereafter  become  members  of  the  said 
congregation,  and  who  maintain  and  adhere  to  the  system  of  religious 
principles  declared  and  exhibited  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States,  shall  bacome  and  be  a 
corporation  and  body  politic  in  law  and  fact  to  have  countenance  by 
the  name,  style  and  title  of  the  English  Presbyterian  Congregation 
of  Harrisburg. 

Article  III.  The  subscribers  and  their  successors  respectively  shall 
have  full  power  and  authority  to  make,  have  and  use  one  common 
seal  with  such  device  and  inscription  as  they  shall  respectively  deem 
proper,  and  the  same  to  break,  alter  and  renew  at  their  pleasure,  and 
by  the  name,  style  and  title  by  them  respectively  provided  and  de- 
clared as  aforesaid,  shall  be  capable  in  law  to  sue  and  be  sued,  plead 
and  be  impleaded  in  any  court  or  courts  before  any  judge  or  justices 
in  all  manner  of  suits,  complaints,  pleas,  causes,  matters  and 
demands  whatsoever,  and  all  and  every  matter  or  thing  therein  to  do 
in  as  full  and  effectual  a  manner  as  any  other  person  or  persons, 
bodies  politic  and  corporate  within  this  Commonwealth  may  or  can 
do,  and  shall  be  authorized  and  empowered,  and  they  are  hereby 
respectively  authorized  and  empowered  to  make  rules,  by-laws  and 
ordinances  and  to  do  everything  needful  for  the  good  government  and 
support  of  the  affairs  of  the  said  corporation ;  Provided,  always,  The 
said  by-laws,  rules  and  ordinances,  or  any  of  them,  be  not  repugnant 


402  Centennial  Memorial. 

to  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  United  States,  to  the  Constitu- 
tion and  laws  of  this  Commonwealth,  oi'  to  this  instrument  upon 
which  the  present  association  is  founded. 

Article  IV.  The  subscribers  and  their  successors  respectively  by 
the  name,  style  and  title  declared  as  aforesaid  shall  be  able  and  capa- 
ble in  law  according  to  the  terms  and  conditions  of  this  instrument, 
to  take,  receive  and  hold  all  and  all  manner  of  lands,  tenements, 
rents,  annuities,  franchises  and  hereditaments  and  any  sum  or  sums 
of  money  and  any  manner  or  portion  of  goods  and  chattels  given  and 
bequeathed  unto  them  to  be  employed  and  disposed  of  according  to 
the  objects,  articles  and  conditions  of  this  instrument  or  according  to 
the  articles  and  by-laws  of  this  corporation  or  of  the  will  and  inten- 
tions of  the  donors :  Provided  alivays,  nevertheless,  That  the  clear 
yearly  value  or  income  of  the  messuages,  houses,  lands  and  tene- 
ments, rents,  annuities  or  other  hereditaments  and  real  estate  of  this 
corporation,  and  the  interest  of  money  lent  shall  not  exceed  the  sum 
of  five  hundred  pounds. 

Article  V.  A  board  of  trustees  consisting  of  seven  members  (four 
of  whom  shall  be  recognized  by  the  Church  Session  as  being  in  full 
communion  with  the  church)  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot  in  church  on 
the  first  Monday  of  January  next,  of  which  previous  notice  shall  be 
given  two  weeks  from  the  pulpit ;  and  until  trustees  shall  be  elected 
in  virtue  of  this  instrument,  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  congregation 
shall  be  managed  as  heretofore. 

Article  VT.  The  persons  capable  of  voting  at  the  election  of  trus- 
tees and  at  all  other  elections  shall  be  pew  holders  and  shall  possess 
at  least  one  half  a  pew  in  the  church  which  has  been  in  his  or  her 
occupancy  one  year,  at  least,  previous  to  the  election  (except  that  the 
five  large  pews  occupied  as  aforesaid  shall  be  entitled  to  four  votes, 
provided  so  many  persons  occupy  them  as  are  otherwise  qualified  to 
vote  ;  Provided,  nevertheless.  That  no  one  shall  be  permitted  to  vote 
at  any  election  whose  pew  rent  shall  be  six  months  in  arrears  and 
unpaid. 

Article  VII.  The  trustees  shall  meet  on  the  first  Monday  after 
their  election  (four  of  whom  shall  be  a  quorum)  and  afterwards  as 
often  as  business  shall  require.  They  shall  choose  from  their  own 
number  a  President,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

Article  VIII.  The  power  of  the  board  of  trustees  shall  extend  to 
making  by-laws  for  their  own  government  and  that  of  the  temporal 
concerns  of  the  church,  such  as  providing  regulations  and  keeping 
in  repair  a  burial  ground,  providing  and  keeping  in  repair  a  house  of 
worship,  renting  pews  and  collecting  pew  i-ents,  receiving  and  paying 
all  debts  due  to  or  by  the  congregation,  employing,  paying  and  dis- 


The  Charter  of  the  Corporation. 


403 


missing  a  sexton,  fixing  and  paying  the  salary  of  a  clerk,  but  they 
shall  be  chosen  by  the  Session.  The  trustees  shall  not  have  power  to 
alien  the  real  estate  of  the  congregation  or  to  expend  more  than 
three  hundred  dollars  without  the  consent  and  approbation  of  a  ma- 
jority of  the  congregation. 

Article  IX.  Meetings  of  the  trustees  may  be  called  at  any  time 
by  the  president,  or  at  the  request  of  two  members. 

Article  X.  Congi*egational  meetings  may  be  called  by  the  trustees 
or  at  the  request  of  six  pew  holders,  of  which  at  least  three  days  pi'e- 
vious  notice  shall  be  given. 

Article  XI.  The  trustees  shall  lay  before  the  congregation  at 
each  annual  election  a  full  account  of  all  the  transactions  of  the  past 
year. 

Article  XII.  The  choice  and  salary  of  a  pastor  shall  be  determined 
by  a  majority  of  the  congregation  entitled  to  vote. 

Article  XIII.  In  case  of  a  vacancy  in  the  board  of  trustees  the 
Pi-esident  shall  call  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  (on  one  week's 
notice  from  the  pulpit}  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Article  XIV.  The  trustees  at  the  first  meeting  after  their  elec- 
tion shall  divide  themselves  i  into  three  classes,  two  of  which  shall 
consist  of  two  members  each  and  the  third  of  three  ;  the  first  class 
shall  continue  for  one  year,  the  second  for  two,  and  the  third  for 
three  years.  An  election  by  ballot  shall  be  held  annually  on  the  first 
Monday  of  January  in  church  to  fill  the  vacancies  respectively  in 
rotation,  of  which  previous  notice  shall  be  given  two  Sabbaths  from 
the  pulpit. 

Adopted  October  5th,  1818. 
John  Stoner,  Thomas  Smith, 

Joseph  A.  McJimsey,    Geo.  Bryan, 


Isaac  Meguier, 
William  Murray, 
Robert  Sloan, 
Hugh  Hamilton, 
Heni'y  McKenney, 
Warvim  Holbrook, 
Moses  Swan, 
A.  S.  Dearmond, 
James  Trimble, 
J.  W.  Bufflngton, 
James  Alricks, 
John  McChesney, 
James  R.  Boyd, 
George  Whitehill, 


Robt.  Harris, 
Sarah  Mooney, 
Hester  Hall, 
Richd.  M.  Grain, 
J.  Wallace, 
Hillary  B.  Talbot, 
James  S.  Espy, 
John  Neilson, 
Charles  Hinckley, 
Moses  Gillmor, 
Tho.  Walker, 
Wm.  Shannon, 
Robert  Dickey, 
Mord.  McKinney, 


Ira  Woodworth, 
Jno.  Fisher, 
Rachel  Awl, 
James  Emerson, 
P.  C.  Nabb, 
William  Graydon, 
Samuel  Agnew, 
James  Sayers, 
Elizabeth  Elder, 
A.  M.  Piper, 
Jno.  Frazer, 
James  Roberts, 
W.  N.  Irvine, 
John  Woodward, 
William  Armstrong', 
H.  Antes, 


404  Centennial  Memorial. 

Samuel  Sees,  Joseph  Smullen,  William  Michael, 

Gilbert  Burnett,  Mary  Hanna,  Sarah  Barr, 

Rebecca  Orth,  Thomas  Whiteside,       Eleanor  M.  Wallace, 

Samuel  Weir,  Frs.  R.  Shunk,  Joshua  Elder, 

Andrew  Mitchel,  Rt.  McElwee,  John  B.  Thompson, 

William  Allison,  Rose  Wright,  Nancy  Anthony. 

Abiathar  Hopkins,         J.  Kearsley,  J.  Montgomery. 

James  Peacock,  Mary  B.  Potts, 

I  certify  that  I  have  perused  and  examined  the  within  instrument 
and  association,  and  am  of  opinion  that  the  objects,  articles  and  con- 
ditions therein  set  forth  and  contained  are  lawful. 

Amos  Ellmaker. 

Harrisburg,  November  16,  1S18. 

We,  the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania,  do  certify, 
that  having  examined  and  perused  the  foregoing  instrument  of  writ- 
ing, we  concur  in  opinion  with  the  Attorney  General  that  the  objects, 
articles  and  conditions  therein  set  forth  and  contained  are  lawful. 
Witness  our  hands  the  14th  day  of  December,  Anno  Domini,  1818. 

William  Tilghman, 
John  B.  Gibson, 
Thomas  Duncan. 
Fee  $1,  charged  by  Judge  Gibson. 

Pennsylvania,  ss  : 

In  the  Name  and  by  the  Authority  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 
William  Findlay,  Governor  of  the  said  Commonwealth. 

To  Thomas  Sei'geant,  Esquire,  Secretary  of  the  said  Commonwealth. 
Sends  greeting  . 

Whereas,  It  has  been  duly  certified  to  me  by  Amos  Ellmaker, 
Esquire,  Attorney  General  of  the  said  Commonwealth,  and  by  William 
Tilghman,  Esq.,  Chief  Justice,  and  John  B.  Gibson  and  Thomas 
Duncan,  Esquires,  Associate  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Courts  of  Penn- 
sylvania, that  they  have  respectively  perused  and  examined  the 
annexed  act  or  instrument  for  the  incorporation  of,  "The  English 
Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Harrisburg,"  and  that  they  concur  in 
opinion,  that  the  objects,  articles  and  conditions  therein  set  forth  and 
contained  are  lawful :  now  know  you,  that  in  pursuance  of  an  act  of 
the  General  Assembly,  passed  the  sixth  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundi'ed  and  ninety-one,  entitled,  "  An 
act  to  confer  on  certain  associations  of  the  citizens  of  this  Common- 


The  Charter  of  the  Corporation.  405 

wealth,  the  powei-s  and  immunities  of  corporation  or  bodies  politic  in 
law."  I  have  transmitted  the  said  act,  or  instrument  of  incorporation 
unto  you,  the  said  Thomas  Sergeant,  Secretary  as  aforesaid,  hereby 
requiring  you  to  enroll  the  same  at  the  expense  of  the  applicants,  to 
the  intent  that,  according  to  the  objects,  articles  and  conditions 
therein  set  forth  and  contained,  the  parties  may  become  and  be  a 
corporation  and  body  politic  in  law  and  in  fact,  to  have  continuance 
by  the  name,  style  and  title,  in  the  said  instrument  provided  and  de- 
clared. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the  great  seal  of  the  State,  at  Harris- 
burg,  the  fourth  day  of  January,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
nineteen,  and  of  the  Commonwealth  the  forty-third. 

By  the  Governor. 

Thomas  Sergeant, 
Secretary. 

Secretary's  Office,  January  4th,  1819. 
Enrolled  in  charter  book.  No.  2,  page  523,  containing  a  record  of 
acts,  incorporating  sundry  religious,  charitable  and  literary  societies. 
Witness  my  hand  and  the  lesser  seal  of   the  State  at  Harrisburg, 
the  day  and  year  above  written. 

Thomas  Sergeant, 
Secretary. 
Note  IV.  on  page  243. 


ACTION  OF  THE  CONGREGATION  IN  1838.* 


The  following  proceedings  took  place  at  a  congregational  meeting 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Harrisburg,  July  2d,  1838.  The 
meeting  was  held  in  consequence  of  a  recommendation  to  that  effect, 
made  by  the  Session  and  Board  of  Trustees  conjointly,  and  which  had 
been  read  by  the  pastor  of  the  church  from  the  pulpit  on  Sundaj, 
the  first  of  July,  1838.  The  proceedings  of  the  Session  and  the  Board 
of  Trustees  embodying  this  recommendation,  it  was  thought  proper 
to  introduce  into  the  minutes  of  the  congregational  meeting  of  July 
2d,  1838,  audit  is  believed  they  are  nowhere  else  preserved.  This  copy 
of  these  proceedings  is  taken  from  a  copy  carefully  examined,  com- 
pared and  attested  by  Charles  C.  Rawn,  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the 
meeting. 

The  pastor  of  the  English  Presbyterian  Church  and  congregation 
of  Harrisburg,  read  from  the  pulpit  on  Sunday,  the  first  day  of  July, 
1838,  the  following  statement : 

Harrisburg,  June  13th,  1838,  the  Session  and  Trustees  of  the 
English  Presbyterian  Church  on  invitation  of  the  Session  met  in  the 
lecture-room  of  the  church  for  the  purpose  of  mutual  consultation  in 
reference  to  the  ecclesiastical  relations  of  the  church  with  which 
they  are  connected.  President  William  R.  DeWitt,  Moderator  of 
the  Session  ;  William  Graydon,  John  Neilson,  Alexander  Graydon 
and  Alexander  Sloan,  members  of  the  Session ;  Robert  Harris, 
William  Allison,  Gilbert  Burnet,  Mordecai  McKinney  and  James  R. 
Boyd,  trustees.  The  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer.  After  some 
consultation  Herman  Alricks,  Alexander  Graydon  and  William  R. 
DeWitt  were  appointed  a  commitee  to  take  into  consideration  the 
subject  of  the  ecclesiastical  relations  of  the  English  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  whether  any,  and  if  any,  what  action  in 
reference  to  the  relations  shall  be  recommended  to  the  church  and 
congregation.     Adjourned. 

June  30th,  1838.  The  Session  and  Trustees  met  in  the  lecture-room 
of  the  church.  Present,  William  R.  DeWitt,  William  Graydon,  John 
Neilson,  Alexander  Sloan,  Alexander  Graydon  and  J.  W.  Weir, 
members  of  the  Session ;  Robert  Harris,  William  Allison,  Herman 
Alricks,  Gilbert  Burnett,  James  R.  Boyd,  Mordecai  McKinney  and 

*  This  is  taken  from  a  document  in  the  hand-writing  of  Dr.  DeWitt,  which  is  pre- 
served in  the  archives  of  the  church. — Editor. 


Action  of  the  Congregation.  407 

John  A.  Weir,  Trustees.  The  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer. 
Rev.  William  R.  DeWitt  was  appointed  Moderator  and  J.  W.  Weir 
Secretary.     The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read. 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  subject  of  the  ecclesias- 
tical relations  of  the  English  Presbyterian  Church,  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
and  whether  any,  and  if  any,  what  action  by  the  said  Church  should 
be  recommended  report :  That  in  consequence  of  the  Commissioners 
chosen  to  represent  the  Presbyteries  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  appointed  to 
meet  in  the  Seventh  Presbyterian  church,  Philadelphia,  Thursday, 
May  17th,  1838,  having  separated  and  organized  two  bodies,  each 
claiming  to  be  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
the  United  States  of  America,  and  claiming  the  right  to  exercise,  as 
such,  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  over  all  the  subordinate  judica- 
tories and  churches  in  connection  with  the  said  General  Assembly  ; 
it  seems  important  and  necessary  that  this  Church  should  either 
decline  the  ecclesiastical  jvu'isdiction  of  both  bodies,  and  all  the  sub- 
ordinate judicatories  that  adhere  to  them  or  declare  to  which  body 
they  adhere  and  submit  to  as  the  General  Assembly.  That  although 
the  ecclesiastical  relations  of  the  Church  can  effect  only  the  mem- 
bers in  full  communion  with  the  Church,  and  although  it  has  been 
the  practice  of  Churches  of  Pennsylvania  to  submit  all  questions 
involving  their  ecclesiastical  relations  to  her  members  in  full  com- 
munion, yet  as  the  pew-holders  may  feel  interested  in  the  question, 
and  as  it  is  desirable  to  continue  and  promote  by  every  possible 
means  the  harmony  which  has  so  long  distinguished  this  congre- 
gation, it  be  recommended  that  all  the  members  of  this  Church 
recognized  by  the  Session  tu  be  in  full  communion  together  with  all 
the  pew-holders  assemble  on  Monday  evening,  July  2d,  at  half-past 
seven  o'clock  in  the  church,  for  the  purpose  of  deciding  on  their 
future  ecclesiastical  relations. 

In  pursuance  to  the  foregoing  the  said  congregation  assembled  in 
the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  borough  of  Harrisburg,  Monday  even- 
ing, July  2d,  1838,  at  7:30  o'clock,  and  organized  the  meeting  by 
calling  Robert  Harris  to  the  chair  and  appointing  James  W.  Weir 
and  Charles  C.  Rawn  Secretaries. 

On  motion  it  was  agreed  that  the  Rev.  William  R.  DeWitt,  Pastor 
of  the  congregation,  open  the  meeting  with  prayer,  which  was  done. 

On  motion  it  was  agreed  that  the  proceeding  of  the  Church  Session 
and  Board  of  Trustees  as  above  in  part  should  be  read.  Whereupon 
the  same  was  I'ead  with  the  further  proceedings  of  the  said  Session 
and  Board  of  Trustees  following,  to  wit  : 

"  That  when  thus  assembled  the  Pastor  of  the  Church  be  desired  to 


408  Centennial  Memorial. 

invoke  the  divine  blessing'  upon  the  deliberations  and  actions,  and 
also  to  give  a  brief  statement  of  the  facts  which  render  some  action 
on  the  part  of  this  Church  necessary.  That  he  then  state  that  the 
Session  and  Trustees  conjointly  have  had  this  subject  under  serious 
deliberations,  and  have  concluded  to  propose  the  three  following- 
resolutions  to  be  offered  and  acted  upon  by  the  meeting  in  the  order 
in  which  they  shall  be  read,  and  to  recommend  and  urge  an  acqui- 
escence in  whichever  of  the  resolutions  shall  be  adopted  by  a  majority 
of  the  meeting. 

Whereas,  The  Commissioners  chosen  by  the  different  Presby- 
teries to  represent  them  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  appointed  to  meet  in  the 
Seventh  Presbyterian  church,  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  seventeenth 
of  May,  1838,  separated  and  constituted  two  bodies  each  claiming  to 
be  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  and  also  claiming  jurisdiction  over  the  subordinate 
judicatories  and  Churches  connected  with  the  said  General  Assembly; 
wherefore, 

1.  Resolved,  That  this  church  and  congregation  recognize  and 
acknowledge  as  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America  the  body  composed  of  commis- 
sioners from  the  Presbyteries  which  assembled  in  the  Seventh 
Presbyterian  Church  and  organized  by  electing  Rev.  William  Plumer, 
of  Virginia,  Moderator,  and  Elias  W.  Crane,  Temporary  Clerk,  and 
which  continued  their  sessions  in  said  church  until  their  final  adjourn- 
ment, June,  1838. 

3.  Resolved,  That  this  church  and  congregation  recognize  and 
acknowledge  as  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
the  United  States  of  America  the  body  composed  of  commissioners 
from  Presbyteries  which  assembled  in  the  Seventh  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Philadelphia  May  17th,  1838,  and  organized  by  electing 
Samuel  Fisher,  D.  D.,  Moderator;  Erskine  Mason,  D.  D.,  Stated 
Clerk ;  E.  Gilbert  Permanent  Clerk,  and  John  W.  Blatchford,  Tem- 
porary Clerk,  and  after  that  adjourned  to  meet  in  the  First  Presby- 
erian  Church,  Philadelphia,  where  they  continued  their  Sessions 
until  their  final  adjournment,  June,  1838. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  English  Presbyterian  Church  in  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  decline  the  jurisdiction  of  either  body,  and  also  the  jurisdiction 
of  all  subordinate  judicatories,  which  are  or  may  be  org-anized,  and 
which  may  claim  in  virtue  of  the  former  ecclesiastical  relations  of 
this  church  the  right  to  exercise  jurisdiction  over  it." 

The  Rev.  W.  R.  DeWitt,  pastor  of  the  congregation  then  pi'oceeded 
to  make   a  detailed   statement  of   the   proceedings   of   the    Genera 


I 


Action,  of  the  Congfcgation.  409 

Assembly  of   the  Presbyterian  Church  of  1837,  referring  at  large  to 
the  alleged  causes  leading  thereto,  to  the  plan  of   union  formed  in 
1801,  and  to  such  matters  connected  with  the  whole  subject  as  were 
calculated  to  possess  the  meeting  with  a  more  perfect  knowledge  of 
the  business  and  duties  it  had  been  assembled  to  attend.    He  also  very 
feelingly  referi-ed  to  the  long  and  att'ectionate  relations  of   nineteen 
years  and  more  that  had  subsisted  between  him  and  his  congregation, 
during  which   time  he  had  received  only  accumulating  evidence  of 
the  kindest  regard  and  esteem  from  them.     He  stated  a  continuation 
of  the  harmony  and  Christian  fellowship,  which  had  during  all  the 
time  of  his  ministrations  among  them  so  peculiarly  and  unprecedently 
distinguished  their  intercourse  as  a  church,  congregation  and  people, 
was  to  him  an  object  so  desirable  that  he  would  sacrifice  his  personal 
feelings  and  wishes  (without    compromising  principle)  rather  than 
interpose  any  obstacles  thereto.     And  that  should  the  congregation 
decide  by  a  reasonable  unanimity  to  acknowledge  the  jurisdiction  of 
that  body  as  the  General  Assembly  which  organized  in  Philadelphia 
on  the  17th  of  May,  1838,  by  electing  the  Rev.  William  Plumer,  Mod- 
erator he  should  most  cheerfully  acquiesce  in  such  a  decision  and 
unanimity,  though  it  would  compel  him  to  withdraw  from  their  pas- 
toral charge  and  oversight,  and  tear  himself  from  friendships  and 
places  consecrated  by  ties  strong  and  lasting  as  the  affections  of  his 
nature,  as  he  had  ever  regarded  the  acts  of  the  Assembly  of  1837  in  the 
excision  of  the  four  Synods  and  the  proceedings  which  had  grown  out 
of  them  as  unconstitutional,  unjust,  unkind,  and  could    perceive   no 
reasons  for  changing  his  opinions.     He  also  further  stated  that  should 
they  similarly  decide  to  acknowledge  the  jurisdiction  of  that  body 
as  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  which  organ- 
ized  in   Philadelphia  on  the  17th  of  May,  1838,  by  electing  Samuel 
Fisher  Moderator,  or  decline  the  jurisdiction  of  either  or  both  of  said 
bodies  and  all  subordinate  judicatories  which  adhered  to  them  or 
either  of  them  he  would  continue  with  great  satisfaction  to  minister 
to  them  in  the  pastoral  office.     After   Mr.   DeWitt  had  closed    his 
remarks,  C.   C.   Rawn  moved  that  the  general  rules  for  judicatories 
found  in  an  appendix  to  a  book  containing  the  Confession  of  Faith  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America  be  adopted 
so  far  as  applicable    for  the  regulation  of  the  proceedings  of    this 
meeting. 

William  McClure  moved  to  postpone  said  motion,  which  was  agreed 
to.  and  the  said  rules  were  not  adopted.  John  M.  Foster  then  moved 
the  adoption  of  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  : 

Whereas,  This  meeting  of  the  English  Presbyterian  congregation 
of  Harrisburg  and  members  of  the  church  in  communion  with  the 
same,  sincerely  regret  that  dissension  prevails  in  the  General  Assem- 


410  Centennial  Memorial. 

bly  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  United  States,  to  such  an  extent 
that  that  once  united  and  respected  judicatory  of  our  church  has  sep- 
arated itself  into  two  distinct  bodies,  each  claiming  to  be  the  rightful 
and  legal  General  Assembly,  and  appealed  to  the  laws  of  the  land  for 
a  decision  of  their  respective  claims  to  that  character  ;  and, 

Whereas,  During  the  pending  of  that  appeal  it  would  be  as  inde- 
corous in  this  meeting,  as  it  is  foreign  from  their  intention,  to  volun- 
teer any  expression  of  opinion  on  the  merits  of  the  legal  controversy ; 
but  in  the  meantime  this  meeting  has  the  right,  which  it  may  exer- 
cise without  disrespect  to  any  tribunal,  legal  or  ecclesiastical,  to  indi- 
cate their  future  course  in  matters  connected  with  that  controversy, 
over  which  neither  tribunal  has  any  absolute  or  binding  control ;  and,* 

Whereas,  The  congregation  and  church,  composed  of  the  members 
of  this  meeting,  have  now,  for  the  long  period  of  twenty  yeai's,  had 
for  their  pastor  one  endeared  to  us  all  by  many  considerations,  one 
whom  we  admire  for  his  talents,  confide  in  for  his  integrity,  love  for 
his  virtues  and  revere  for  his  piety,  such  a  connection  pleasant  and 
happy  as  we  know  it  to  have  been  in  times  past,  and  which  we  see  no 
just  reason  to  apprehend  will  be  less  so  for  the  future,  we  cannot  and 
will  not,  on  our  part,  voluntarily  sever,  as  the  condition  on  which  we 
may  be  connected  with  or  continue  by  any  church  judicatory  what- 
ever ;  therefore, 

Sesolved,  That  we  will  not  consent  to  any  acknowledgment  of  the 
ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  of  either  party,  now  claiming  to  be  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  United  States, 
nor  to  any  connection  of  the  church  and  congi'egation,  with  any  Pres- 
bytery or  church  judicatory,  which  shall  exact  as  the  condition  of 
such  acknowledgment  or  connection,  a  dissolution  of  the  subsisting 
relation  between  us  and  our  pastor,  the  Rev.  William  R.  DeWitt. 

Charles  C.  Rawn  moved  to  postpone  the  consideration  of  the  pre- 
amble and  resolution,  offered  by  Mr.  Foster,  for  the  purpose  of  intro- 
ducing the  following  i^reamble  and  resolution  : 

Whereas,  It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  government  of  the 
church  be  under  some  definite  form  ;  and. 

Whereas,  We  hold  it  to  be  expedient  and  agreeable  to  the  Scripture 
and  the  practice  of  the  primitive  Christians  that  the  church  be  gov- 
erned by  congregational,  Presbyterial,  Synodical  and  General  Assem- 
blies ;  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  we  will  as  a  church  anxiously  avoid  any  action  cal- 
culated to  destroy  or  impair  the  regular  legitimate  succession  of  such 
ecclesiastical  tribunals  : 

Resolved,  That  no  official  joint  meeting  of  the  Church  Session  and 
Board  of  Trustees  as  such  for  the  church  is  recognized  by  or  known 
to  the  Form  of  Government  and  Discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  Church: 


Actio7i  of  the  Congregation.  411 

Besolved,  Therefore,  that  this  congregational  meeting  possesses 
no  other  or  greater  authority  by  virtue  of  the  particular  recommenda- 
tions causing  it,  than  any  other  voluntary  assemblage  of  the  mem- 
bers of  said  congregation  after  request  or  notice  for  that  purpose  ; 

Besolved,  That  it  is  now  unnecessary  and  inexpedient,  if  not 
wholly  unauthorized  by  the  forms  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
government  and  discipline  for  this  congregation  to  assume  the  de- 
cision of  the  question  proposed  for  its  consideration  and  action  : 

Besolved,  That  the  Session  of  this  church  is  the  regularly  consti- 
tuted tribunal  to  deliberate  and  decide  upon  ecclesiastical  relations, 
and  that  we  do  most  cheerfully  confide  in  the  body  we  have  so  con- 
stituted for  a  regular  decision  at  proper  and  expedient  time  of  those 
questions  now  presented  and  all  others  requiring  its  action. 

And  on  this  question  he  called  for  the  yeas  and  nays. 

The  chairman  asked  the  meeting  whether  it  was  their  pleasure 
that  the  yeas  and  nays  should  be  called  on  the  question  of  postpone- 
ment, which  was  decided  in  the  negative.  The  question  was  then 
taken  on  the  postponement,  and  it  was  lost  without  a  division. 

Joseph  Wallace  then  moved  to  postpone  the  preamble  and  resolu- 
tion of  Mr.  Forster  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  third  resolution 
stated  by  the  Session  and  Board  of  Trustees.  On  this  motion  the 
yeas  and  nays  were  called,  but  the  call  was  subsequently  withdrawn 
and  the  motion  was  lost. 

Joel  Hinckley  then  moved  to  postpone  the  preamble  and  resolution 
offered  by  Mr.  Forster  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  second  reso- 
lution stated  by  the  Session  and  Trustees,  and  on  this  question  the 
yeas  and  nays  were  called.  The  call  was  subsequently  recalled  and 
the  motion  to  postpone  was  lost. 

The  question  then  recurring  on  the  preamble  and  resolutions 
offered  by  William  Fosser,  they  were  carried,  three  or  four  votes 
dissenting. 

(Signed)  ROBERT  Harris. 

Chairman. 

Attest : 
(Signed)    Charles  C.  Rawn,  )  (>    , 
James  W.  Weir,      f  '^^^  ** 

From  this  date,  July  2d,  1838,  to  November  9th,  1840,  two  years, 
four  months  and  seven  days,  the  church  and  congregation  continued 
independent.  On  the  9th  of  November,  1840,  the  church  and  congre- 
gation resolved  to  apply  to  be  received  under  the  watch  and  care  of 
the  Harrisburg  Presbytery,  Mr.  Alexander  Graydon,  Ruling  Elder, 
was  appointed  to  make  the  application.  It  was  made,  and  the 
church  and  congregation  was  received  into  the  Presbytery. 


FORMS    IN    USE  DURING    A    PORTION  OF  DR.  De 
WITT'S  PASTORATE. 


Note. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Ciiurch  of  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  as  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States 
of  America,  adopts  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,  the  Larger' 
and  Shorter  Catechisms,  as  the  statement  of  our  faith,  fellowship  and 
discipline.  Form  of  Government  and  Book  of  Discipline,  and  to  this 
the  Ministers  and  Ruling  Elders  of  the  Church  subscribe  at  their 
ordination.  But  as  this  Church  re-affirms  what  our  fathers  at  the 
adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  did  formally 
declare  and  what  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
has  since  reiterated,  namely :  That  we  are  willing  to  receive  one 
another  as  Christ  has  received  us,  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  admit  to 
fellowship  in  sacred  ordinances  all  such  as  we  have  grounds  to 
believe  C^hrist  will  at  last  admit  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven  (see  act 
preliminary  to  the  adoption  of  the  Westminster  Confession  -of  Faith 
— Minutes  1729,  page  96) ;  and,  that  we  fully  recognize  the  authoi'ity 
of  the  command,  "Him  that  is  weak  in  faith  receive  ye,  but  not 
to  doubtful  disputation  ;"  in  its  application  to  the  reception  of  private 
members  of  the  Church  (see  Pastoral  Letter  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  1822,  in  Minutes  of  that  year,  page  30),  we  deem  it  proper  to 
require  of  private  members,  on  their  public  admission  to  our  commu- 
nion an  assent  only  to  a  brief  summary  of  leading  doctrines,  while 
all  are  required  to  submit  to  the  government  of  the  Church  adminis- 
tered according  to  the  Book  of  Discipline,  and  are  expected  to  become 
familiar  with  the  Shorter  Catechism,  and  as  opportunity  permits  to 
study  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Lai'ger  Catechism  which  we  regard 
as  the  best  uninspired  summaries  of  Christian  doctrine. 

Form  op  Public  Admission  to  the  Communion. 

By  the  proper  authorities  of  this  Church  you  have  been  examined 
as  to  your  Christian  knowledge  and  piety ;  and  on  the  profession  of 
your  faith  in  Christ,  and  promise  of  obedience  to  his  commands,  you 
have  been  received  by  them  into  its  membership.  You  now  present 
youi^selves  in  this  public  manner,  to  confess  Jesus  Christ  before  men, 
to  testify  your  faith  in  him,  and  your  consecration  to  his  service.  We 


Forms  used  by  Dr.  DeWiff.  413 

hope  you  have  well  considered  this  important  transaction.  It  will 
live  long  in  your  remembrance,  and  be  followed  with  everlasting- 
consequences.  The  vows  you  this  day  make  will  be  recorded  in 
heaven,  and  meet  you  again  on  your  trial  at  the  last  great  day.  But 
these  solemn  considerations  need  not  dishearten  you.  In  the  name 
of  Christ  you  may  venture  thus  publicly  to  commit  yourself  to  God 
in  a  covenant  never  to  be  revoked,  and  to  trust  to  his  promised 
faithfulness,  for  strength  to  fulfill  your  engagements. 
Attend  now  to  the  profession  of  your  faith. 

1.  You  believe  in  one  God  subsisting  in  three  persons,  Father,  Son, 
and  Holy  Ghost,  the  same  in  substance,  equal  in  power  and  glory. 

2.  You  believe  that  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments 
were  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  and  are  the  only  infallible  rule  of 
faith  and  practice. 

3.  You  believe  that  God  created  man  upright  in  his  own  image,  in 
knowledge,  righteousness,  and  true  holiness,  but  that  left  to  the 
freedom  of  his  own  will,  he  fell  from  the  estate  in  which  he  was 
created,  by  sinning  against  God,  and  by  his  fall  brought  all  mankind 
into  an  estate  of  sin  and  misery. 

4.  You  believe  that  the  Son  of  God,  the  second  person  in  the  God- 
head, assumed  our  nature,  and  in  the  room  of  sinners  obeyed  the  law 
of  God  and  offered  up  himself  a  sacrifice  to  satisfy  divine  justice,  and 
that  God  is  now  just  in  justifying  the  ungodly  who  believe  in  Him. 

5.  You  believe  that  all  who  are  justified  have  been  born  of  the 
Spirit,  and,  by  Him  persuaded  and  enabled  to  embrace  Jesus  Christ 
freely  offered  to  us  in  the  gospel,  and  that  all  such  are  kept  by  the 
power  of  God  through  faith  unto  salvation. 

6.  You  believe  there  will  be  a  I'esurrection  of  the  just  and  unjust 
and  a  final  judgment  when  the  wicked  shall  go  away  into  everlasting 
punishment,  and  the  righteous  into  life  eternal. 

All  this  you  do  believe,  do  you  ? 
Attend  now  to  your  covenant : 

You  now  confess  and  deplore  your  sad  apostasy  from  God,  your  want 
of  original  righteousness,  the  corruption  of  your  whole  nature,  the 
unbelief  which  has  led  you  so  long  to  reject  the  Saviour,  and  the 
manifold  transgressions  of  your  lives,  all  which  sins  you  condemn 
and  forever  renounce.  In  the  presence  of  God,  angels  and  men  you 
do  solemnly  avouch  Jehovah  to  be  your  God,  the  object  of  your 
supreme  love,  the  Lord  Jesus  to  be  your  Saviour  from  sin  and  death, 
and  the  Holy  Spirit  to  be  your  sanctifier,  comforter  and  guide. 

To  this  God,  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Spirit  you  do  now  give  your- 
selves in  a  covenant  never  to  be  revoked,  to  be  his  willing  servants, 


414  Centennial  Memorial. 

to  obey  his  commandments,  and  to  observe  his  ordinances,  in  the 
sanctuary,  in  the  family,  and  in  the  closet.  You  bind  yourselves  by 
covenant  to  this  church,  to  seek  our  peace  and  edification,  and  to 
submit  to  the  government  and  discipline  of  Christ  as  here  adminis- 
tered. All  this  in  reliance  on  divine  aid,  you  do  severally  profess 
and  engage. 

(Baptism  here  administered  to  unbaptized  adults.) 

(The  members  of  the  church  will  here  arise.) 

In  consequence  of  these  professions  and  engagements,  we.  the 
officers  and  members  of  this  church,  do  welcome  you  to  our  Commu- 
nion, to  a  fellowship  with  us  in  the  duties  and  labors,  in  the  hopes 
and  joys  of  the  gospel,  and  on  our  part  engage  to  watch  over  you  in 
the  Lord,  to  pray  for  you,  and  to  seek  your  edification,  as  long  as  you 
continue  among  us. 

(The  members  of  the  church  will  here  resume  their  seats.) 

And  now,  beloved  in  the  Lord,  let  it  be  impressed  on  your  minds 
that  you  have  entered  into  solemn  relations  which  you  never  can  re- 
nounce. Should  you  have  occasion  to  remove  fi'om  us  within  the 
bounds  or  neighborhood  of  another  church,  we  shall  hold  it  to  be  our 
duty  to  give,  as  it  will  be  your  duty  to  seek,  a  recommendation  from 
us,  which  will  place  you  under  the  watch  and  care  of  that  portion  of 
the  family  of  Christ.  For  hereafter  you  can  never  withdraw  from 
within  the  pale  of  the  church,  or  live  in  the  neglect  of  sealing  ordi- 
nances without  a  breach  of  covenant.  Rejoice  with  exceeding  joy  in 
these  indissoluble  bonds  which  connect  you  with  Christ  and  "his  peo- 
ple. Walk  worthy  of  your  vocation  ;  be  faithful  unto  death,  and  you 
shall  receive  a  crown  of  life. 

The  Lord  bless  you  and  keep  you. 

The  Lord  make  his  face  to  shine  upon  you,  and  be  gracious  unto 
you. 

The  Lord  lift  up  his  countenance  upon  you  and  give  you  peace. 


Form  of  Infant  Baptism. 

Dearly  beloved,  you  have  now  presented  your  children  before  God 
n  his  sanctuary,  to  devote  them  to  his  service,  and  to  enter  into  cov- 
enant with  him,  in  their  behalf,  that  they  may  become  interested  in 
the  covenant  of  grace,  of  which  the  water  of  baptism  is  the  seal. 

Remember,  therefore,  that  your  children  are  involved,  with  the 
rest  of  his  race,  in  the  consequences  of  the  fall  of  our  first  parent,  that 
they  are  by  nature  the  children  of  wrath  even  as  others,  and  that  they 
need  the  application  of  the  blood  of  Christ  and  an  inward  cleansing  of 


Forms  used  by  Dr.  DeWitt.  415 

the  heart  through  the  intluence  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  blessings,  of 
which  bapism  by  water  is  only  the  sign,  which  it  can  never  impart, 
but  which  you  are  to  seek  of  God  in  their  behalf  in  the  faith  of  that 
blessed  promise,  "I  will  be  your  God,  and  the  God  of  your  children 
after  you,  in  their  generations." 

You  do  now  publicly  i*enew  your  covenant  engagement  with  God 
and  his  Church.  Should  your  lives  and  the  lives  of  your  children  be 
spared,  you  engage  to  teach  them,  or  cause  them  to  be  taught,  to  read 
the  Word  of  God,  and  to  instruct  them  in  the  principles  of  our  holy 
religion  as  therein  revealed,  to  make  them  acquainted  with  that 
excellent  form  of  doctrine  contained  in  the  Shorter  Catechism  adopted 
by  our  Church,  to  pray  with  and  for  your  children,  to  set  them  an 
example  of  piety  and  godliness  and  conscientiously  to  endeavor,  by 
all  the  means  of  God's  appointment,  to  bring  them  up  in  the  nurture 
and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 

Relying  upon  the  all-sufficiency  of  divine  grace  to  make  you  faith- 
ful and  to  crown  your  efforts  with  success,  these  things  you  solemnly 
promise,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  His  Church,  to  perform. 


PASTORS. 


Nathaniel  Randolph  Snowden,  Octobei-  2,  1793-June  25,  1805. 
James  Buchanan,  February  13,  1809-Septeniber  20,  1815. 
William  Radcliffe  DeWitt,  D.  D.,  November  12,  1819-December  23, 
1867. 
Thomas  Hastings  Robinson,  D.  D.,  January  20,  1855-July  6,  1884. 
George  Black  Stewart,  D.  D.,  January  2,  1885- 


ELDERS. 


Samjel  Weir,  February  16,  1794-August  15,  1820. 

Moses  Gillmor,  February  16,  1794-June  10,  1825. 

Adam  Boyd,  February  16,  1794-  May,  1814. 

John  Stoner,  about  1814-March  24,  1825. 

William  Graydon,  about  1814-October  30,  1840. 

Samuel  Agnew,  M.  D.,  April  9,  1820-March,  1835. 

Robert  Sloan,  April  9,  1820-December,  1833. 

Joseph  A.  McJimsey,  April  9,  1820-September  20,  1821. 

John  Neilson,  September  11,  1825-1838. 

Richard  T.  Leech,  September  11.  1825-1837. 

John  C.  Capp,  September,  11,  1825-1831. 

James  W.  Weir,  October  19,  1834-March  14,  1878. 

Alexander  Sloan,  October  19,  1834-August  2,  1890. 

Alexander  Graydon,  October  19,  1834-1843. 

Alfred  Armstrong,  December,  1840-1846. 

Samuel  W.  Hays,  December,  1840-May  18,  1855. 

William  McClean,  January  5,  1845-1846. 

William  Root,  January  5,  1845-1847. 

John  A.  Weir,  June  24,  1855-October  10,  1881. 

Mordecai  McKinney,  June  24,  1855-December  17,  1867. 

R.  Jackson  Fleming,  June  24,  1855-December  2,  1874. 

James  Fleming,  D.  D.  S.,  March  8,  1868- January,  1875. 

William  S.  Shaffer,  March  8,  1868-October  11,  1889. 

Walter  F.  Fahnestock,  Jr.,  March  8,  1868-March  13,  1872. 


Deacons  and  Ih^ustees.  417 


Alfred  Armstrong,  March  8,  1868-October  11,  1871. 
James  F.  Purvis,  April  15,  1877-December  26,  1882. 
Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell,  April  15,  1877- 
Gilbert  M.  McCauley,  April  15,  1877- 
Jacob  A.  Miller,  M.  D.,  April  15,  1877- 
John  Henry  Spicer,  March  20,  1887- 
John  C.  Harvey,  March  20,  1887- 


DEACONS. 


John  K.  Tomlinson,  March  20,  1887-March  24,  1889. 
Charles  W.  Foster,  March  20,  1887- 
Peter  K.  Sprenkel,  March  20,  1887- 
Melancthon  S.  Shotwell,  March  20,  1887- 
Luther  R.  Kelker,  March  20,  1887- 
Jacob  J.  Franck,  March  20,  1887- 
Samuel  C.  Miller,  March  20,  1887- 
David  Fleming,  March  24,  1889- 


TRUSTEES. 


George  Whitehill,  1819-1820. 
James  Trimble,  1819-1834. 
William  Murray,  1819-1822. 
Andrew  Mitchell,  1819-1822. 
William  Allison,  1819-1830  ;  1835-1846. 
Robert  Harris,  1819-1839  ;  1841-1842. 
Richard  M.  Grain,  1819-1821. 
Gilbert  Burnet,  1821-1889. 
John  Brooks,  1822-1828. 
John  Berryhill,  1824-1826  ;  1840-1841. 
John  Neilson,  1824-1826. 
Alexander  M.  Piper,  1826-1833. 
James  R.  Boyd,  1827-1839. 
Alexander  Graydon,  1829-1834. 
William  M.  Carson,  1831-1833. 


418 


Centennial  Memorial. 


John  A.  Weir,  1834-1842  ;  1847-1855. 

Mordecai  McKinney,  1834-1844  ;  1852-1855. 

Samuel  Capp,  1835-1835. 

James  Wright,  1837-1837. 

Herman  Alricks,  1838-1854. 

Henry  Walters,  1840-1851. 

Samuel  W.  Hays,  1840-1840. 

Joel  Hinckley,  1842-1842. 

William  Root,  1843-1844. 

Andrew  Graydon,  1843-1850. 

Francis  Wyeth,  1843-1844. 

Robert  J.  Ross,  1845-1855. 

John  H.  Briggs,  1845-1872. 

Augustus  Burnett,  1846-1857. 

Joseph  Wallace,  1851-1857. 

William  M.  Kerr,  1855-1864. 

Alexander  Hamilton,  1856-1857. 

Edward  L.  Orth,  1856-1861. 

Alexander  Roberts,  1856-1868  ;  1869-1886. 

Henry  Gilbert,  1858-1888. 

David  Fleming,  1858-1890. 

Charles  L.  Bailey,  1862- 

Dr.  George  Bailey,  1865-1876. 

William  S.  Shaffer,  1863-1868. 

David  McCormick,  1866-1873. 

Robert  H.  Moffitt,  1878- 

Augustine  L.  Chayne,  1878- 

M.  Wilson  McAlarney,  1887- 

Samuel  W.  Fleming,  1887- 

Spencer  C.  Gilbert,  1889- 

George  R.  Fleming,  1891- 


CHURCH  CHOIR. 


George  R.  Fleming,  Director. 
David  E.  Crozier,  Organist. 


Soprano. 


Mrs.  David  Fleming,  Jr., 
Miss  Addie  Geiger, 
Mrs.  William  M.  Graydon, 
Miss  Margaret  P.  Grayson, 
Mrs.  Edward  J.  Hardy, 
Miss  Maud  A.  Hench, 
Miss  Mary  Killough, 


Miss  Lillian  M.  Kline, 
Mrs.  Gilbert  M.  McCauley, 
Miss  Sara  J.  Miller, 
Miss  Margaret  B.  Mowry, 
Miss  Marie  A.  Segelbaum, 
Mrs.  J.  Henry  Spicer, 
Miss  Elizabeth  F.  L.  Walker. 


Miss  Reba  Bunton, 
Miss  Sara  B.  Chayne, 
Miss  Elizbeth  Given, 
Miss  Louisa  Given, 


Contralto. 


Mrs.  John  C.  Harvey, 
Miss  Annie  R.  Kelker, 
Miss  Cora  L.  Snyder, 
Miss  Mabel  E.  Vaughn. 


Mr.  David  Fleming, 


Tenor. 

Mr.  George  R.  Fleming, 
Mr.  Peter  K.  Sprenkel. 


Mr.  J.  Roberts  Given, 
Mr.  Henry  A.  Kelker,  Jr., 
Mr.  Samuel  C.  Miller, 
Mr.  Clarence  Piatt, 


Bass. 


Mr.  George  B.  Roberts, 
Mr.  John  B.  Roberts, 
Mr.  Geo.  F.  Sharp, 
Mr.  Wm.  G.  Underwood, 


ROLL  OF  COMMUNICANTS. 


February  16th,  1894. 

[The  year  indicates  the  date  of  their  admission  to  the  church,  and 
"P."  and  "C."  indicate  respectively  that  they  were  admitted  on 
Profession  or  by  Certificate,  and  the  figure  after  the  last  name  in  each 
year  shows  the  number  now  remaining  on  the  roll  for  that  year.] 

1827.— Mrs.  Sarah  Doll,  P.— 1. 

1834  —Mrs.  Julia  A.  Briggs,  P.— 1. 

1843. — Mrs.  Susan  Fleming,  P.;  Mrs.  Caroline  R.  Haldeman,  P.; 
Mrs.  Malvina  L.  Ingram,  P.;  Mrs.  Isabella  S.  Kerr,  P.;  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Kerr,  P.;  Alexander  Roberts,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Vaughn,  P.; 
Mrs.  Ann  E.  Zimmerman,  P.— 8. 

1850.— Mrs.  Ellen  W.  Stees,  P.— 1. 

1853.— Mrs.  Jeannette  Fleming,  C— 1. 

1855. — Samuel  D.  Ingram,  P.;  Miss  Anna  C.  Weir,  P. — 2. 

1857.— Mi's.  Elizabeth  B.  Orth,  P.;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Reily,  P.— 2. 

1859, — Mrs.  Margaret  F.  Sumner,  P. — 1. 

1862.— Miss  Rachel  T.  Briggs,  P.;  Mrs.  Louisa  C.  Fahnestock,  C; 
Miss  Louisa  C.  Fahnestock,  C;  Mrs.  Hanna  M.  Harvey,  C;  Miss  Mary 
Vandling,  C;  Miss  Elizabeth  Vandling,  C. — 6. 

1864.— Thomas.  B.  McCord,  P.— 1, 

1865.— Mrs.  Henrietta  Z.  Miller,  P.;  Mrs.  Margaret  G.  Parsons,  C. 
—2. 

1866.— Mrs.  Ellen  R.  Bent,  P.;  Miss  Maria  L.  Boyd,  P.;  D.  Tru- 
man Boyd,  P.;  Spencer  C.  Gilbert,  P.;  John  C.  Harvey,  P.;  George 
W.  Parsons,  P.;  Miles  Rock,  P.;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  M.  Russell,  P.;  Mrs. 
Isabella  T.  Sheesley,  P.;  Miss  Sibyl  M.  Weir,  P.;  Robert  M.  Zim- 
merman, P. — 11. 

1867.— Mrs.  M.  Elizabeth  Cathcart,  C;  William  M.  Fahnestock, 
P.;  Miss  Rebecca  Kline,  P.:  Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell,  C;  Mrs.  Mary 
C.  Goodman,  P. — 5. 

1868.— Mrs.  Anna  M.  Bigler,  C;  Miss  Clara  Marshbank,  C— 2. 

1869.— Mrs.  Laura  D.  Huston,  P.;  Miss  Annie  M.  Marshbank,  C 
Dr.  Jacob  A.  Miller,  C;  Mrs.  Maria  M.  Miller,  C;  Samuel  C.  Miller 
C— 5. 

1870.— Mrs.  Sarah  P.  Boyd,  C;  Miss  Margaret  B.  Mowry,  P.— 2. 

1871.— Charles  A.  Fahnestock,  P.;  Mrs.  Caroline  Hickok,  C— 2. 


Roll  of  Communicants.  421 

1872.— Miss  Lucretia  H.  Frowert,  C;  Miss  Mary  E.  George,  P.; 
Miss  Julia  T.  Harris,  C;  Miss  Sallie  L.  Harris,  P.;  M.  Wilson 
McAlarney,  P.;  Mrs.  Ada  McAlarney,  C;  Mrs.  Rebecca  W.  McCar- 
rell,  C.-7. 

1873. — Mrs.  Mary  M.  Applebaugh,  P.;  Miss  Henrietta  Guissinger, 
C;  Mrs.   Sarah  J.  McCord,  P.;  Dr.  Henry  L.  Orth,  C— 4. 

1874.— Miss  Sarah  Beatty,  C:  Miss  Emma  F.  Beatty,  C;  Miss 
Isabella  DeHaven,  P.;  Samuel  W.  Fleming,  P.;  Mrs.  Agnes  M. 
Hardy,  P.;  Mrs.  Louisa  H.  Hickok,  C:  Gilbert  M.  McCauley,  C.; 
Mrs.  Sarah  E.  McCauley,  P.;  Mrs.  Eliza  Ogelsby,  C;  Miss  Cai-oline 
Pearson,  P.;  Dr.  Cherrick  Westbrook,  Jr.,  P. — 11. 

1875. — Mrs.  Mary  Ferguson,  P.;  Mrs.  Catharine  Harris,  P.;  Mrs. 
Kate  G.  Orth,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Quickel,  P.— 4. 

1876. — Charles  L.  Bailey,  C:  Mrs.  Emma  H.  Bailey,  C;  James  R. 
Banford,  P.;  Mrs.  Rebecca  Bowers,  P.:  Leroy  J.  Bowers,  P.;  Mrs. 
Virginia  F.  Brant,  P.;  Augustine  L.  Chayne,  C;  Mrs.  Catharine 
Chayne,  C;  Miss  Sara  B.  Chayne,  C;  Miss  Sarah  C.  Cowden,  C; 
Miss  Marian  E.  Darr,  P.,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  DeHart.  P.;  Martin  Deisroth, 
P.;  Mrs.  Kate  Denney,  P.;  Mrs.  Emma  W.  Dirosa,  P.;  Mrs.  Helen 
Dwyer,  P.;  George  M.  Ehrisman,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  J.  K.  Ewing,  C; 
Frank  G.  Fahnestock,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Fleming,  C;  James  Fletcher, 
P.;  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Fortenbaugh,  P.;  Jacob  J.  Franck,  P.;  Joseph  R. 
Henning,  P.;  Peter  A.  Hershey,  P.;  Mrs.  Lydia  E.  Hershey,  P.;  Mrs. 
Clara  V.  Ingram,  P.;  Mrs.  M.  Ellen  Jopp,  P.;  Luther  R.  Kelker,  C; 
Mrs.  Agnes  K.  Kelker,  C;  Miss  Mary  A.  Kelker,  P.;  Miss  Mary  W. 
Kerr,  P.;  Harris  Kerr,  P.;  Samuel  M.  Killough,  P.;  Miss  Mary  Kil- 
lougb,  P.;  Mrs.  Maggie  E.  Kline,  P.;  Mrs.  H.  Jennie  Ludlow,  C;  Miss 
Sarah  D.  Milliken,  P.;  Dr.  Robert  H.  Moffitt,  P.;  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Moffitt,  P.:  Mrs.  Rebecca  Morrison,  P.;  Miss  Annie  M.  McCord,  P.; 
William  McCormick,  C;  Mrs.  Catharine  E.  O'Brien,  P.;  Joseph  R. 
Orwig,  C;  Mrs.  Jane  W.  Orwig,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  Oves,  P.;  Charles  W. 
Palmer,  P.;  Mrs.  Rebecca  J.  Palmer,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  H.  Pearson,  P.; 
JohnE.  Peters,  P.;  Harvey  Phelps,  P.:  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Phelps,  P.; 
Rev.  Thomas  D.  Reese,  C;  John  W.  Reily,  P.;  James  Roberts,  P.; 
George  Roberts,  P.;  Alexander  Roberts,  Jr.,  P.;  John  F.  Snow,  P.; 
Mrs.  Regina  Steinmeier,  P.;  Miss  Mary  A.  Steinmeier,  P.;  Mrs. 
Catharine  M.  Tann,  P.;  John  H.  Taylor,  P.;  Morris  Taylor,  P.; 
George  W.  Taylor,  P.;  Thomas  A.  Woods,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Woods, 
C;  George  W.  Young,  P.;  Mrs.  Catharine  Young,  P.— 69. 

1877.— Mrs.  Effie  Ehrisman,  P.;  Joseph  G.  Ewing,  P.;  Mrs.  Carrie 
M.  Kerr,  C:  Mrs.  Catharine  B.  Mitchell,  C;  Miss  Mary  Mitchell,  C; 
Miss  Jennie  F.  Mitchell,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Quickel,  C;  Henry  F. 
Quickel,  C;  Mrs.  Carrie  R.  Shotwell,  C;  Charles  A.  Spicer,  C.;  Mrs. 


422  Centennial  Memorial. 

Nancy  W.  Spicer,  C;  J.  Henr-y  Spicer,  C;  James  C.  Stoner,  C. — 13. 

1878. — William  K.  Fenn,  P.;  Mrs.  Anna  Grayson,  P.;  Mrs.  Amer- 
ica W.  Sheafer,  C;  Miss  Caroline  B.  Sheafer,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Snow,  P.;  Sharon  Stephens,  C;  Mrs.  Catharine  A.  Taylor,  P.;  Mrs. 
Mary  L.  Ward,  P.:  Mrs.  Isabella  S.  Wilson,  P.— 9. 

1879.— Horace  A.  Chayne,  P.;  Miss  Emma  M.  Cummings,  C; 
Thomas  Gosney,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Gosney,  C;  Mrs.  Margaret  A. 
Woods,  P.— 5. 

1880._Henry  W.  Knight,  C;  Mrs.  Angelina  B.  Knight,  C;  James 
Newby,  C;  Mrs.  Zella  P.  Newby,  C;  Melancthon  S.  Shotwell,  C; 
Mrs.  Jane  Stewart,  C  — 6. 

1881.— Miss  Julia  E.  Fenn,  P.;  William  H.  Gregory,  P.;  Mrs. 
Catharine  E.  Gregory,  C;  Mrs.  Letitia  P.  Johnston,  C;  Abram  E. 
Kingport;  C;  Mrs.  Maggie  E.  Kingport,  C— 6. 

1882.— William  E.  Bailey,  P.;  Mrs.  Sabra  M.  Bell,  C;  Mrs.  Anna 
S.  Bergner,  C;  Mrs.  Hanna  A.  Burn,  C;  Miss  Lizzie  J.  Burn,  C; 
Mrs.  Ellen  Gibbins,  P.;  Mrs.  Delilah  Hess,  P.;  T.  Frank  Newby,  C; 
James  N.  Ohail,  P.;  Charles  F.  Spicer,  P.;  Mrs,  Marian  E.  Willetts, 
P.— 11. 

1883.— Mrs.  Susan  Baer,  P.;  Mrs.  Annie  L.  Baker,  C;  Mrs.  Susan- 
nah E.  Bankeley,  P.;  George  W.  Boyd,  P.;  Mrs.  Henrietta  Boyd,  P.; 
Miss   Bessie  Cathcart,  P.;  James  W.  Dougherty,   P.;    Miss  Agnes 
Ferguson,  C;  David  Fleming,  P.;  Georsre  R.  Fleming,  P.;   Spencer 
G.  Frowert,  P  ;  Miss  Alice  A.  Glass,  P.;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  M.  Groff,  P 
Mrs.  Ella  T.  Heck,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Herman,  C;  Benjamin  F.  Ken- 
dig,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Kendig,  C;  Miss  Elizabeth  K.  Kingport,  P. 
Miss  Florence  M.  Kingport,  P.;  Mrs.  Carrie  E.   Leidich,  P.;  Mrs 
Elizabeth  B.  Lyne,  P  ;  David  Martin,  C;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Martin,  C. 
Mrs.  Florence  Payne,  P.;    Miss  Bertha  M.  Payne,  P.;  Miss  Sarah 
Raymond,    P.;    Christian  Reichart,   P.;    Miss  Ida    L.   Rogers,   P 
Augustus  G.  Shantz,  P.;  Mrs.  Julia  H.   Snyder,  C;  Miss  Cora  Lee 
Snyder,  P.;  Harry  M.  VanZandt,  C;  Mrs.  Lizzie  W.  VanZandt,  C. 
Mrs.    Mary  Lyle  Weaver,  P.;   Mrs.  Catharine  B.  Westbrook,   C. 
Charles  H.  Woods,  P.:  Mrs.  Emma  Woods,  P.— 37. 

Ig84._iy[iss  Annie  Gulp,  P.;  Charles  W.  Foster,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary 
W.  Foster,  P.;  Nicholas  I.  Hench,  C;  Mrs.  Annie  Hench,  C;  Henry 
S.  Jenkins,  C;  Mrs.  Sallie  T.  Jenkins,  C;  Harvey  J.  Miller,  P.;  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  McCord,  P.;  Thomas  H.  Redmond,  P.;  Mrs.  Jane  Red- 
mond, P.;  Frank  J.  Roth,  C;  John  K.  Tomlinson,  C;  Mrs.  Lydia 
Tomlinson,  C;  Geary  M.  Willetts,  P.;  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Willetts, 
P.;  William  H.  Windsor,  P.— 17. 

1885.— James  B.  Bailey,  P.;  Miss  Anna  C.  Bell,  P.;  B.  Frank  Bishop, 
C;  Mrs.  Barbara  E.  Bishop,  C;  Miss  M.Elizabeth  Bishop,  C;  Ira  N. 


Roll  of  Communicants.  423 

Bishop,  P.;  Miss  Stella  Bishop,  P.;  John  R.  Bockus,  ('.;  Mrs.  Anna  M. 
Bockus,  C;  Mrs.  Kate  Border,  P.;  Samuel  V.  Border,  P.;  Mrs.  Esther 
Bricker,  C;  Mrs.  Lucy  S.  Brown,  P.;  Wilson  S.  Cornman,  P.;  Mrs. 
Harriet  S.  Cornman,  P.;  Georg-e  W.  Deisroth,  P.;  Miss  Elizabeth 
Dunn,  P.;  Miss  Helen  Ewing,  P.;  Mrs.  Carrie  Fahnestock,  C;  Miss 
Lulu  Farmer,  P.;  Mrs.  Lena  Fuller,  P.;  Alexander  Gibbins,  P.; 
Mrs.  Katie  Goehringer,  P.;  Henry  W.  Gough,  P.;  Mrs.  Jennie  L. 
Gough,  P.;  Mrs.  Catharine  D.  Hamilton,  C;  Edward  A.  Hartwick,  P.; 
Miss  Carrie  Harvie,  P.;  Miss  Maud  A.  Hench,  P.;  Miss  Lillie  A. 
Hench,  P.;  Abram  M.  Hess,  P.;  George  K.  Hoy,  P.;  Mrs.  Grace 
Hoy;  iMrs.  lElsie  J.  Kelly,  P.;  Mak-Yu-Chung,  P.;  Mak-Ling-Ching, 
P.;  Miss  Lizzie  M.  Martin,  P.;  Miss  Clara  V.  Mehaney,  P.;  Henry  G. 
Metzger,  P.;  Robert  C.  Michael,  P.;  Miss  Silvia  Millard,  P.;  John  S. 
Miller,  P.;  Luther  R.  Moffitt,  P.;  George  P.  Montgomery,  P.;  Mrs. 
Barbara  Myers,  P.;  Miss  Cornelia  W.  Newby,  P.;  Miss  Margaret  M. 
Orwig,  P.;  Miss  Clara  B.  Orwig,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  Ott,  P.;  Mrs.  Lillie  E. 
Palmer,  P.;  Miss  Alva  Pannebecker,  P.;  Jefferson  Payne,  P.;  Jacob 
K.  Probst,  P.;  Miss  Annie  E.  Raymond,  P.;  Joseph  Redmond;  P.; 
George  W.  Reily,  P.;  ISIiss  Caroline  Reily,  P.;  Miss  Alice  J.  Sanders, 
P.;  Mrs.  Mary  K.  Sharp,  P.;  Mrs.  Rosanna  Shive,  P..;  Edward 
Shuey,  P.;  Mrs.  Annie  E.  Spicer,  P.;  William  C.  Spicer,  P.;  Peter, 
K.  Sprenkel,  C;  Mrs.  Lillie  A.  Sprenkel,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Stewart, 
C;  Mrs.  Eva  C.  Stewart,  P.;  Miss  Alice  V.  Taylor,  P.;  Miss  Annie 
S.  Vandling,  P.;  Mrs.  Lucy  M.  Weaver,  P.;  Miss  Sarah  J.  Win- 
ters, P.— 71. 

1886.— Edward  Deisroth,  P.:  Mrs.  Emeline  Dickey,  P.;  Mrs 
Emma  L.  Garman,  P.;  Haldeman  Bigler,  P.;  Adam  Bricker,  P.; 
Mrs.  Annie  E.  Hartwick,  P.;  Mrs.  Frances  S.  Jackson,  C;  David  R. 
Junkin.  P.;  Mi'S.  Sarah  J.  Marsh,  C;  Miss  Jennie  A.  Marsh,  C;  Miss 
Fannie  R.  Marsh,  C;  Miss  Mima  K.  Marsh,  C;  Miss  Annie  M. 
McKee,  P.;  James  O'Brien,  P.;  J.  Ralph  Orwig,  P.;  Miss  Rosa  Place, 
P.;  Mrs.  Carrie  H.  Schell,  C;  Miss  Catharine  J.  Sheesley,  P.;  Mrs. 
Leah  Shuey,  P.;  William  R.  Steinmeier,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  Tress,  P.; 
William  R.  Weaver,  P.;  Miss  Anna  M.  Williamson,  P.;  Isaac  Woods, 
P.;  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Wooley,  P.;  Harry  Zeiter,  P.— 28. 

1887. — Amos  M.  Anderson,  C;  George  Edwin  Arnold,  P.,  Wil- 
liam R.  Bain,  P.;  Rush  E.  Banford,  P.;  Miss  Mary  Bates,  P.;  Edward 
M.  Bierbower,  P.;  Mrs.  Emma  L.  Bowers,  P.;  George  L.  Bowersox, 
P.:  Harry  H.  Boyd,  P.;  George  H.  C.  Brant,  P.;  Mrs.  Edith  K. 
Buehrer,  P.;  Miss  Rachel  A.  Burn,  P.;  Mrs.  Clarissa  Carpenter,  P.; 
Mrs.  Mary  Crutchley,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Dougherty,  P.;  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet J.  Durkees,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Emerick,  P.;  George  W.  Etter, 
P.;  Miss  Mary  Ferguson,  P.;  Charles  E.  Frowert,  P.;  Miss  Mary  E 


424  Centennial  Memorial. 

Garver,  P.;  Miss  Julia  W.  Geety,  C;  Mrs.  Eliza  R.  Given,  C; 
Miss  Elizabeth  Given,  C;  Miss  Louisa  Given,  C;  John  Roberts 
Given,  C;  John  H.  Grayson,  P.;  Miss  Margaret  P.  Grayson, 
P.;  Mrs.  Carrie  L.  Hale,  P.;  Miss  Arabella  Heister,  P.;  Mrs. 
Teressa  E.  Hogentogler,  P.;  William  H.  Hoke,  P.;  Robert  W. 
Hoy,  P.;  William  H.  Huber,  P.:  Miss  Annie  R.  Kelker,  P.;  Miss 
Ellen  Kelkei%  P.;  Mrs.  Agnes  A.  Kirk,  P.;  John  W.  Lyne,  P.; 
David  H.  Martin,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  Michael,  P.;  John  J.  Moffitt,  P.; 
Robert  H.  Moffitt,  Jr.,  P.;  Mrs.  Rosanna  Morgan,  P.;  Miss  Mary  E. 
McCormick,  C.;  Mrs.  Hattie  F.  McNeal,  C.;  Miss  Elizabeth  Mc- 
MuUen,  C.;  Miss  Fannie  J.  Null,  P.;  Miss  Mary  G.  Orwig,  P.;  Mrs. 
Kate  Peace,  P.;  Mrs.  Lillie  M.  Peace,  P.;  William  C.  Pfouts,  C.; 
Mrs.  Amy  S.  Pfouts,  C.;  Miss  Carrie  L.  Place,  P.;  Mrs.  Annie  L. 
Rauch,  P.;  William  H.  Reindel,  P.;  John  W.  Reitzel.  P.;  Mrs. 
Jennie  Reitzel,  P.;  Mrs.  Maggie  S.  Robinson,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Rodenhaber,  P.;  Mrs.  Sylvia  H.  Roth,  P.;  S.  Grant  Sawyer,  P.; 
Jacob  S.  Shaffer,  P.;  George  M.  Shuey,  P.;  John  R.  Silvius,  C;  Mrs. 
Anna  E.  Silvius,  C;  Mrs.  Sallie  A.  Smith,  P.;  Edward  James  Stack- 
pole,  C;  Mrs.  Alice  M.  Stephens,  P.;  Miss  Millie  Stine,  P.;  William 
G.  Underwood,  P.;  Jeanetta  D.  Vandling,  P.;  Conrad  O.  Zimmer- 
man, P.— 73. 

1888.— Charles  J.  Bechdolt,  C;  Mrs.  Bertha  S.  Darby,  P  ;  Mrs. 
May  Daugherty,  C;  Miss  Josephine  Derr,  P.;  William  Emerick,  P. 
F.  Byron  Ewing,  C;  Miss  Ella  Gouldin,  C;  Alfred  M.  Hawn,  P. 
Mrs.  Alice  Hawn,  C:  Nicholas  Pall  Hench,  P.;  Annie  Weakley 
Hench,  P.;  Mrs.  Millie  Hogentogler,  C;  Mrs.  Ivy  J.  Huber,  P. 
Miss  Mary  E.  Huber,  P.;  J.  Geiger  Ingram,  P.;  Miss  Lydia  M 
Kapp,  C;  Warren  Z.  Meek,  P.;  Adam  H.  Millard,  P.;  Miss  Sarah  J 
Miller,  C;  Mi-s.  C.  Lizzie  Morris,  C;  Richard  W.  Morrow,  P.;  Dr 
John  B.  McAlister,  C;  Mrs.  Margaret  McClure,  C;  Mrs.  Jennie  Mc 
Cormick,  P.;  Ashton  D.  Peace,  P.;  Miss  Annie  E.  Pearson,  P. 
Mrs.  Rachel  Powell,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  Probst,  C;  Filmore  Scantling 
P.;  Miss  Marie  Antionette  Segelbaum,  P.;  Mrs.  Estelle  Spicer,  C. 
Mrs.  Gertrude  M.  Wiestling,  P.;  Mrs.  Margaret  Wooley,  P.— 32. 

1889.— Miss  Bertha  W.  Burrow,  P.;  Miss  Ella  LeRue  Hart,  C. 
Charles  W.  Hartwick,  P.;  Mrs.  Laura  C.  Heckendorn,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary 
D.  Horst,  P.;  Lewis  Jenkins,  P.;  Mrs.  Sarah  Lehr,  P.;  J.  Hall  Musser, 
C;  Mrs.  Alice  R.  Musser,  C;  W.  Henry  Musser,  P.;  John  A. 
McCord,  P.;  Daniel  E.  McGinley,  P.;  Mrs.  Jennie  McGinley,  P.; 
Miss  Florence  Orth,  P.;  Miss  Helen  Payne,  P.;  Andrew  Redmond, 
C;  Martin  Richards,  C;  Mrs.  Julia  Richards,  C;  Miss  Catharine, 
Richards,  P.;  George  F.  Sharp,  P.;  Valentine  H.  Wiestling,  P.; 
Walter  H.  Yingst,  P.— 22. 


Roll  of  Communicants.  425 

1890.— Mrs.  Agnes  Adams,  C;  Edward  Bailey,  P.;  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
R.  Bailey,  P.;  James  Baker,  P.;  Mrs.  Isabella  Beck,  P.;  Miss  Anna 
M.  Bender,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Bender  P.;  Joseph  A.  Berryhill,  P.; 
Mrs.  Araminta  Berryhill,  P.;  Albert  H.  Buchanan,  P.;  Miss  Marga- 
ret A.  Bumbaugh,  P.;  Fred.  B.  Carnes,  P.;  Mrs.  Margaret  Chellew, 
C;  Miss  Josephine  A.  Coldren,  C:  John  T.  Cojje,  P.:  David  E.  Crozier, 
C;  Daniel  E.  Crutchley,  P.;  Miss  Harriet  A.  Crutchly,  P.;  Edwin  E. 
DeHart,  P.;  Mrs.  Lulu  E.  DeHart,  P.;  Edwin  Drennan,  P.;  William 
E.  Ehrisman,  P.;  Mrs.  Ida  M.  Ehrisman,  C;  Mrs.  Laura  E.  Essig,  P.; 
Mrs.  Virginia  M.  E.  Penn,  P.;  James  M.  Fessler,  P.;  Mrs.  Norene  K. 
Fetrow,  P.;  John  Flickinger,  P.;  Miss  Mary  E.  Fry,  P.;  Joseph  T.  A. 
Fuller,  P.;  Charles  fl.Garberich,  P.:  Mrs. Virginia Garberich,  P.;  Miss 
Bertha  Gingher,  P.;  Miss  Sadie  E.  Gingher,  C.;  Mrs.  Pearl  E.  Gray- 
don,  P.;  Nathaniel  G.  Grayson,  P.:  Edward  L.  Groff,  P.;  Mrs.  Ada 
D.  Groff,  C.;  Miss  Fannie  S.  Gruber,  P.;  Miss  Mary  W.  Hamilton,  P.; 
Harry  C.  Hoffman,  C.;  Miss  Pearl  E.  Hogentogler,  P.;  Miss  Ivy 
J.  Huber,  P.;  Miss  Florence  H.  Hursh,  P.;  Mrs.  Mabel  C.  Jones,  C.; 
Miss  Alice  C.  Kingport,  P.;  Miss  Lilian  M.  Kline,  P.;  Miss  Lyra  M. 
Leeser,  C.;  James  Hasbruck  LeFever,  C.;  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Leidich,  P.; 
Rody  R.  Lyter,  P.;  J.  Roberts  Magee,  C;  Mrs.  Sarah  Magee,  C.; 
Mrs.  A.  Carrie  Meek,  P.;  Albert  J.  Metzger,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  H. 
Meyers,  P.;  Mrs.  Laura  S.  Middleton,  P.;  Mrs.  Carrie  O.  McCord,  P.; 
William  D.  McNeal,  C:  Miss  Jeannette  I.  Notestine,  P.;  Mrs.  Agnes 
G.  Nunemacher,  P.;  Miss  Prances  E.  Pannebecker,  P.:  Harry  Peters, 
P.;  Dr.  Hugh  Pitcairn,  C;  Mrs.  Annie  M.  Pitcairn,  C;  Roy  C. 
Pitcairn,  C:  Frank  R.  Pitcairn,  C;  Mrs.  M.  Ellen  Record,  P.;  J. 
Harry  Reel,  C;  Miss  M.  Margaret  Reel,  P.;  Charles  P.  Reel,  P.; 
Lincoln  M.  Reigle,  P.;  Edwin  S.  Reigle,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  H.  Rice,  P.; 
Mrs.  Mary  F.  Rust,  P.;  William  H.  Shaffer,  C;  Mrs.  Emma  R. 
Shaffer,  C;  William  S.  Shaffer,  Jr.,  C;  Miss  Edith  B.  Shaffer,  C; 
Helen  N.  Sharp,  P.:  Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Sheesley,  P.;  Miss  M.  Alice 
Small,  P.;  Mrs.  Louisa  Smith,  C;  James  E.  Sollers,  P.;  Miss  Bessie 
W.  Spicer.  P.;  Mrs.  Kate  Hummel  Siackpole,  C:  Mrs.  Ella  Stees,  P.; 
Jesse  K.  Stephens,  P.;  B.  Edward  Taylor,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  N.  Thomas, 
P.;  John  R.  Thompson,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Thompson,  C;  Bertha  A. 
Tippett,  P.;  Miss  Minnie  R.  Trout.  C;  William  B.  Wenrich,  P. 
Mrs.  Ida  M.  Wenrich,  P.;  George  G.  Young,  P.;  Mrs.  Sarah  Young, 
P.— 98. 

1891.— William  H.  Anderson,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  Anderson,  C.  Mrs. 
Emma  Bentz,  P.;  Miss  Caroline  H.  Bigler,  P.;  Mrs.  Catharine 
Black,  C;  Miss  Anna  M.  Bowman,  P.;  Charles  P.  Boyd,  P.:  Lewis 
H.  Carpenter  C:  Mrs.  Maggie  S.  Carpenter,  C:  Richard  Chellew,  P.; 
Mrs.  Clara  Cowan,  C;  Frank  Deihl,  P.;    Mi-s.  Mary  Deihl,  C;  Miss 


426  Centennial  Memorial. 

Alice  V.  Drawbaugh,  P.;  Miss  Bessie  R.  Ehrisman,  P.;  Mrs.  Emma 
H.  Eisenberger,  P.;  Miss  A.  Laura  Eisenberger,  P.;  John  L.  Essig, 
P.;  Mrs.  Eliza  R.  Fleming,  C;  Elcinda  M.  Geiger,  P.;  Mi-s.  Emma 
W.  Hepperle,  P.;  Harry  G.  Hogentogler,  P.;  Miss  T.  Edith  Hogen- 
togler,  P.;  Miss  Janet  M.  Horst,  P.;  Mrs.  Martha  M.  Junkin,  C.; 
Miss  Clara  Knipple,  P.;  Miss  Anna  Lantz,  C.;  Miss  Lizzie  A.  Lindsey, 
P.;  Mrs.  Melinda  Leeds,  P.;  William  W.  Lynch,  P.;  Miss  Mary  E. 
Lynch,  C.;  George  C.  Martin,  P.;  Howard  P.  Martin,  C;  Mrs. 
Lillian  C.  Martin,  C.;  Mi-s.  Nellie  R.  Millard,  P.;  Samuel  W.  Miller, 
P.;  Mrs.  Emma  Miller,  P.;  Miss  Caroline  R.  Moffitt,  P.;  George  R. 
Moffitt,  P.;  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  McCormick,  P.;  Mrs.  Nancy  McCoy,  C; 
Edwin  S.  McCoy,  P.;  Miss  Mary  E.  McGinley,  P.;  Miss  Ida  Note- 
stine,  C;  Miss  Maud  A.  Peace,  P.;  Mrs.  Annie  E.  Phillips,  C;  Miss 
May  O.  Phillips,  C;  Miss  Fannie  E.  Phillips,  C;  Mrs.  Anna  M. 
Reese,  P.;  Mrs.  Lena  Reichart,  C;  Miss  Minnie  M.  Rineer,  C;  Miss 
Susie  O.  Rose  P.:  Mrs.  Ida  M.  Schmidt,  P.;  William  H.  Sharp,  P.; 
Harry  F.  Sheesley,  P.;  Miss  Catharine  Shuey,  P.;  Mrs.  Frances  E, 
Simmers,  P.;  Miss  Marcie  A.  Snodgrass,  P.;  H.  Clement  Sweatman, 
C;  Mrs.  Louella  Sweatman,  C;  M.  Harvey  Taylor,  P.;  Miss  Maud 
Tippett,  C;  Mrs.  Emma  H.  Underwood,  P.;  Miss  Roberta  Vaughn, 
P.;  Miss  Mabel  E.  Vaughn,  P.;  Mrs.  M.  Virginia  Weiss,  C;  Miss 
Mary  J.  Wooley,  P.;  Mrs.  Annie  P.  Young.  C— 68. 

1892. — Miss  Clara  M.  Anderson,  P.;  Mrs.  Anna  T.  Beachler,  C; 
Miss  Mary  C.  Bidaman,  P.;  John  Black,  P.;  Miss  Mary  J.  Boyd,  P.; 
Mrs.  Harriet  N.  Crozier,  C;  Thomas  J.  Crutchley,  P.;  Mrs.  Gertrude 
S.  Dunkin,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Hefflefinger,  C;  Miss  Harriet  S.  Gilbert, 
P.;  Miss  Louisa  A.  Hickok,  P.;  Edward  O.  Hogentogler,  P.;  William 
Hunter,  C;  Miss  Catharine  Jacobs,  P.;  Mrs.  Ella  I.  Johnson,  P.; 
Miss  Eva  R.  Johnston,  P.;  Rudolph  F.  Kelker,  jr.,  P.;  James  C. 
Leidy,  C;  Mrs.  Annie  W.  Leidy,  C;  Mrs.  Sarah  Leib,  C;  Miss 
i^mma  E.  Leib.;  C;  Miss  Anna  Magee,  P.;  Miss  Mary  E.  Mehaffie, 
P.;  Miss  Annie  E.  Miller,  P.;  Oliver  B.  Montgomery,  P.;  Miss  Edith 
Montgomery,  P.;  William  H.  Myers,  P.;  Miss  Martha  W.  McAlarney, 
P.;  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  McCann,  P.;  Miss  Annie  V.  McCord,  P.;  Harris 
B.  McCormick,  P.;  Mrs.  Lizzie  McCroskey,  P.;  Mrs.  Helen  B. 
Newby,  C;  Miss  Susie  Nichols,  P.;  Frederick  J.  Pearson,  P.;  Miss  Ida 
M.  Pearson,  C;  Mrs.  Annie  M.  Peters,  C;  Miss  Lizzie  J.  Redmond, 
P.;  Miss  Edith  K.  Reel,  P.;  Miss  Ada  M.  Richards,  P.;  Mrs.  Sarah 
Roberts,  P.;  Mrs.  Eliza  E.  Roberts,  P.;  Miss  Elizabeth  L.  Robinson, 
P.;  Miss  Martha  K.  Ross,  C;  A.  Fisher  Russell.  C;  Henry  K.  Samp- 
selle,  C;  Mrs.  Eliza  Sampselle,  C;  Mi's.  Louisa  Seasholtz,  C;  Mrs. 
Lizzie  Shearer,  C;  Miss  Bertha  Small,  P.;  Mrs.  Agnes  Smith,  C; 
Miss  Phoebe  Emma  Smith,  P.;  Stanley  G.  Smith,  P.;  Mrs.  Emma  S. 


Roll  of  Communicants.  427 

Taylor,  P.;  Miss  Bertha  M.  Unger,  P.;  John  W.  Urban,  P.;  Mrs. 
Sarah  Urban,  P.;  Miss  Elizabeth  F.  L.  Walker,  P.;  Warren  H. 
Wasson,  C;  Mrs.  Alice  B.  Wasson,  C;  Miss  Mary  Wheeler,  P.; 
Wallace  Willis,  P.;  Mrs.  Hannah  R.  Wilt,  C;  Miss  Jennie  Woods, 
C;  Miss  Cora  M.  Young,  P.— 65. 

1893.— Miss  Elizabeth  S.  Baker,  P.:  Dr.  Thomas  S.  Blair,  C^.;  Miles 
Brown,  P.;  William  J.  Clark,  C;  Edwin  C.  Conrad,  P.;  Miss  Bessie 
L.  Eckenroth,  P.;  Alonso  H.  Eby,  P.;  Islrs.  Mary  M.  Franck,  C; 
Miss  Margaret  P.  Hamilton,  P.;  Henry  C  Heilman,  C;  William 
Orville  Hickok,  P.;  Ross  A.  Hickok,  P.;  Charles  N.  Hickok,  P.; 
William  O.  Hickok,  IV.,  P.;  Mrs.  Carrie  L.  Ingle,  C;  John  P.  Kelker, 
P.;  Miss  Edith  Kelker,  P.;  Miss  Josephine  B.  Knight,  P.;  John  J.  L. 
Kuhn,  P.;  Mrs.  Mary  G.  Kuhn,  P.;  Miss  Wilma  Z.  Leffingwell,  C; 
Mrs.  Kate  Lewis,  P.;  Mies  Mary  Z.  Miller,  P.:  John  H.  McAlarney, 
P.;  Elizabeth  C.  McCoy,  P.:  Miss  Bertha  M.  Myers,  P.;  Mrs.  Catha- 
rine J.  O'Brien,  P.;  Miss  Nancy  C.  Orr,  P.;  Miss  Anna  Shipley  Dixon 
Orth,  P.;  Miss  Roberta  Elizabeth  Orth,  P.;  Miss  Frances  Annie 
Payne,  P.;  Miss  A.  Elizabeth  Pearson,  P.;  Norman  B.  Pitcairn,  P.; 
Miss  Mary  Myrteth  Ramsay,  P.;  Miss  Elizabeth  S.  Reel.  P.;  Miss 
Mary  E.  Reily,  P.;  John  B.  Roberts,  C;  Mrs.  Mary  Roberts,  C; 
William  P.  Schell,  P.;  Orville  H.  Schell,  P.;  Miss  Louisa  W.  Sears, 
P.;  Miss  Bertha  M.  Shertzer,  P.;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Shuler,  P.;  Miss 
Edna  M.  Sprenkel,  P.;  Miss  Anna  B.  Stewart,  P.;  Miss  Helen 
Stewart,  P.;  Miss  Martha  Carrie  Weiss,  C;  John  Fox  Weiss,  C; 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Wentz,  P.;  Robert  W.  Woods,  P.;  John  E.  Woolley, 
P.— 51. 

1894.— Samuel  F.  Compton,  C;  Mrs.  Ella  G.  Compton,  C;  Mrs. 
Lottie  Conrad,  C;  Miss  Emma  M.  Cummings,  P.;  Alexander  S. 
Koser,  C:  Mrs.  Ella  L.  Koser,  C;  George  W.  McCurdy,  P.;  Mrs. 
Emma  J.  Tress,  P.;  William  C.  Young,  P.— 9. 

Total  Communicants,  February  16th,  1894,  768. 


OFFICERS. 


February  16,  1894. 

Pastor. 

George  B.  Stewart,  127  State  Street. 

Pastor's  Assistant. 
David  M.  Shilling,  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building. 

Elders. 
Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell,  1877.      Dr.  Jacob  A.  Miller,  1887. 
Gilbert  M.  McCauley.  1877.  J.  Henry  Spicer,  1887. 

John  C.  Harvey,  1877. 

Clerk  op  Session— Jacob  A.  Miller,  M.  D. 

Deacons. 

Term  Expires  1894. 

Peter  K.  Sprenkel. 
Chas.  W.  Foster,  Secretary.  Melancthon  S.  Shot  well. 

Term  Expires  i8gs- 

Luther  R.  Kelker,  Treasurer.        David  Fleming. 

Term  Expires  i8g6. 

Jacob  J.  Franck,  Moderator.  Samuel  C.  Miller. 

Trustees. 

Term  Expires  iSgs. 

Augustine  L.  Chayne.  Spencer  C.  Gilbert. 

Term  Expires  i8g6. 

M.  Wilson  McAlarney,  Samuel  W.  Fleming,  Secretary. 

Term  Expires  i8gy. 

Chas.  L.  Bailey,  President.  Robert  H.  Mopfitt. 

Geo.  R.  Fleming. 

Treasurer. 
Samuel  W.  Fleming,  32  North  Third  Street. 

Organist. 

David  E.  Crozier. 

Sexton— Charles  A.  Davis.  1629  Logan  Avenue. 


MEMBERS  RECEIVED. 


Prior  to  1819,  .  .  331  1845, 

1819, 46  1846, 

1820, 20  1847, 

1821, 23  1848, 

1822, 9  1849, 

1823, 12  1850, 

1824 26  1851, 

1825, 4  1852, 

1826, 8  1853, 

1827, 34  1854, 

1828, 11  1855, 

1829, 12  1856, 

1830, 61  1857, 

1831, 7  1858, 

1832, 27  1859, 

1838, 5  1860, 

1834, 50  1861, 

1835, 8  1862, 

1836, 11  1863, 

1837, 2  1864, 

1838, 7  1865, 

1839, 10  1866, 

1840, 7  1867, 

1841, 10  1868, 

1842, 27  1869, 

1843, 134  1870, 

1844, 10 


6 
6 
10 
5 
3 
27 
7 

10 

3 

5 

60 

12 

20 

22 

18 

17 

9 

15 

4 

7 

18 
39 
21 
12 
41 
11 


1871 
1872 
1873 
1874, 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1888; 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 


10 

21 

24 

30 

96 

80 

...  35 

26 

22 

19 

15 

25 

69 

32 

97 

40 

97 

49 

31 

113 

76 

70 

54 

to  Feb.  16th,  11 


Total, 


2,462 


THE  PRESBYTERIAN  COLORS. 


Perhaps  there  are  very  few  who  call  themselves  "Blue  Presby- 
terians " — who  really  know  why  that  color  is  given  to  them.  "  'Twas 
Presbyterian  true  blue,"  is  found  in  Hudibras  1,  1.  The  allusion  is  to 
the  blue  apron  which  some  of  the  Presbyterian  preachers  used  to 
throw  over  their  small,  high  pulpit — their  "preaching  tub,"  as  it  was 
called — before  they  began  to  address  the  people. 

The  term,  "blue  stocking,"  is  quite  misapplied  to  Presbyterians,  as 
that  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  church,  but  was  applied  to  a  social 
club  formed  in  Venice  in  the  year  1400 — distinguished  by  the  color  of 
their  stockings.  This  club  appeared  afterwards  in  Paris,  and  later 
in  England,  and  finally  disappeared  entirely  in  1840. 

When  Presbyterians  say  they  are  "  ti-iie  blue  " — "  dyed  in  the  wool," 
they  refer  to  a  blue  cloth  and  thread  made  at  Coventry,  noted  for  its 
permanent  dye — and  blue  or  azure  is  the  symbol  of  divine  eternity. 

The  old  Covenanters  wore  blue  as  their  badge  in  opposition  to  the 
scarlet  of  the  i-oyalty.  They  based  their  choice  on  Numbers  xv.  38, 
"Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  bid  them  make  fringes  in  the 
borders  of  their  garments,  and  that  they  put  upon  the  fringe  of  the 
borders  a  ribbon  of  blue." 

In  one  of  the  Rump  songs  we  read  of  a  person  going  to  hear  a  lec- 
ture, and  the  song  says  : 

Where  I  a  tub  did  view, 

Hung  with  an  apron  blue  ; 

'Twas  the  preachers,  I  conjecture. 


REV.  JOHN  ROAN'S  SCHOOL. 


The  Rev.  John  Roan  had  a  Theological  school  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Derry,  at  the  which  were  instructed  the  Rev.  Samuel  Eusebius 
McCorkle,  Rev.  Joseph  Montgomery,  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  and  Rev.  William  Graham,  founder  of  Washington  and  Lee 
University,  Virginia,  than  whom  none  are  more  celebrated  in  the 
annals  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  America.  -  Editor. 


IISTDEX. 


Agnew,  Samuel,  Sketch  of,  379. 

Angell,  Rev.  Thomas  B.,  Account  of  musical  festival  by,  107-111. 

Armstrong-,  Alfred,  Sketch  of,  390. 

Armstrong-,  Rev.  Reuben  H.,  offers  invocation,  86  ;  Reads  the  Script- 
ure, 125. 

Beck,  Rev.  Benjamin  F.,  Offers  prayer,  125. 

Boyd,  Adam,  Sketch  of,  375. 

Brown,  Cassius  M.,  Sketch  of  Elder  Street  Presbyterian  Church  by, 
159-167. 

Buchanan,  Rev.  James,  called  to  pastorate,  218  ;  Reminiscences  by 
his  son  of,  310-313  ;  Sketch  of,  219,  357-359. 

Capp,  John  C  ,  Sketch  of,  384. 

Cattell,  Rev.  William  C,  Speaks  at  social  reception,  279-285. 

Centennial  celebration,  Inception  of,  1  :  General  plan  and  aim  of,  5-7  ; 
Weather  during,  7,  8  ;  Success  of,  9  ;  Programme  of,  18-26  ;  Pur- 
pose of,  34. 

Centennial  choir,  Names  of,  17. 

Centennial  Committee  chosen,  2,  3  ;  First  meeting  of,  4  ;  Last  meet- 
ing of,  9,  10. 

Centennial  sub-committees,  Names  of,  15-16. 

Chambers,  Rev.  George  S.,  Presides  at  union  communion  service, 
85-92  ;  Address  of,  at  communion  service,  87-91 ;  Distributes  the 
bread  at  communion  service,  91  ;  Pronounces  benediction,  92  ; 
Assists  in  service  on  historical  evening,  189. 

Charter  of  English  Presbyterian  Congregation,  401-405. 

Choir,  Names  of  Centennial,  17. 

Choir,  Leaders  of.  97.  98,  99,  116;  Families  long  connected  with,  114, 
116,  117;  Names  of,  419. 

Civil  War.  Reminiscences  of,  252-256.  283,  297. 

Communicants,  Roll  of,  420-427. 

Covenant  Presbyterian  Church,  Historical  sketch  of,  167-175. 

Deacons,  List  of.  417. 

Decorations,  Description  of,  11-14. 

DeWitt,  Rev.  John,  Invited  to  participate,  6;  Introduced,  35;  Ad- 
dress of,  37-62 ;  Pronounces  the  benediction,  62. 

DeWitt,  Mrs.  Mary  E.,  Sketch  of,  367,  368. 

DeWitt,  Rev.  W.  R.,  Reminiscences  of,  103,  113,  281,  298;  And  the 


432  Centennial  Memorial. 

first  choir,  112;  Called  to  pastorate,  235;  Revivals  during  his 
ministry,  240  ;  Sketch  of,  360-367. 

Duncan,  Rev.  George  S.,  Offers  prayer,  91  ;  Sketch  of  Westminister 
Presbyterian  Church  by,  176-180. 

Elder,  Rev.  John,  Description  of,  197-199. 

Elders,  Participating  in  communion  service,  21,  note ;  85  :  Elected 
during  Dr.  DeWitt's  pastorate,  238 ;  Elected  during  Dr.  Robin- 
son's ministry,  266  ;  Sketches  of,  373-400  ;  List  of,  416. 

Elder  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  Historical  sketch  of,  159-167. 

English  Presbyterian  Congregation,  The  Mother  Chui^ch,  5  ;  Charac- 
ter of  its  original  elements,  41,  196  ;  One  of  the  second  genei-ation 
of  Presbyterian  churches,  44;  Address  on  present  condition  of, 
132-148;  Present  membership,  133,  134,  420;  Organizations  now 
within,  134-139 ;  Calvary  chapel,  140,  141  ;  Official  boards  of,  141- 
143 ;  Services  and  meetings  of,  143-145  ;  Spiritual  condition  of, 
145,  146  ;  Greetings  of,  to  the  other  Presbyterian  churches,  146- 
148  ;  First  steps  toward  organization  of.  201-205  ;  Organized,  206 ; 
First  house  of  worship,  212-216  ;  Charter  granted  to,  238  ;  Elders 
elected  during  Dr.  DeWitt's  pastorate,  238 ;  Erection  of  second 
house  of  worship,  239 ;  Burning  of  second  church  edifice,  240,  248; 
Unites  with  the  New  School  church,  241 ;  Action  of,  at  time  of 
the  division  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  243,  406-411  ;  Interest  of, 
in  Foreign  Missions,  246  :  Size  of,  at  time  of  Dr.  Robinson's  com- 
ing, 246  ;  Places  for  services,  while  third  edifice  was  buiiding, 
248 ;  Dedication  of  third  house  of  worship,  248,  249 ;  Growth  of, 
in  the  last  forty  years,  251,  252;  During  the  Civil  War,  252-256  ; 
Meeting  of  the  New  School  Assembly  of  1868  with,  256  ;  Growth 
during  the  last  nine  years,  268,269  ;  Organization  of,  not  favored 
by  Paxtang  congregation,  301,  302  ;  Characteristics  of,  341-350  ; 
Charter  of,  401-405 :  Some  forms  of  service  of,  412-415  ;  List  of 
pastors  of,  416 ;  List  of  Elders  of,  416 ;  List  of  Deacons  of,  417  ; 
List  of  Trustees  of,  417  ;  Present  choir  of,  419;  Roll  of  communi- 
cants of,  420-427  ;  Present  officers  of,  428 ;  Members  received,  429. 

Fahnestock,  W.  F.,  Jr.,  Sketch  of,  399. 

Fleming,  James,  Sketch  of,  398. 

Fleming.  R.  Jackson,  Sketch  of,  397. 

Eraser,  Rev.  James,  Reads  the  Scripture,  93. 

Garland,  Samuel  H.,  Sketch  of  Covenant  Presbyterian  Church  by, 
167-175. 

Gillmor,  Moses,  Sketch  of,  374. 

Graydon,  Alexander,  Sketch  of,  385. 

Graydon,  H.  Murray,  Address  of.  at  Musical  Festival,  97-105. 

Graydon,  William,  Sketch  of,  377. 


^  Index.  433 

"Great  Evangelical  Revival,"  Influence  of,  59-61. 

Greig,  Rev.  Charles  Edward.  Pronounces  benediction,  105. 

Harrisburg,  Description  of,  39-41,  195  ;  Social  Life  of,  41-43  ;  First 
Sermon  in,  200. 

Hayes,  Rev.  I.  Potter,  Offers  prayer,  189. 

Hays,  Samuel  W.,  Sketch  of,  389. 

Historical  Exhibit,  Description  of,  13,  14. 

Incorpoi-ators,  Names  of,  403. 

Leech,  Richard  T.,  Sketch  of,  382. 

Lottery,  The,  212-214. 

Market  Square  Presbyterian  Church,  vide,  "  English  Presbyterian 
Church." 

McClean,  William,  Sketch  of,  391. 

McJimsey,  Joseph  A.,  Sketch  of,  381. 

McKeehan,  Rev.  John  L.,  Reads  the  Scripture,  190. 

McKinney,  Mordecai,  Sketch  of,  394. 

McPherson,  Hon.  John  B.,  Presides  at  social  reception,  278  ;  Intro- 
duces speakers  at  social  reception,  278,  285,  290,  295,  299. 

Music  and  hymn  books  used  at  diffei'ent  periods,  101-104,  120-123. 

Musical  instruments  used  in  church  at  different  periods,  98-100,  117- 
120. 

Musical  programme  at  social  reception,  277. 

Niles,  Rev.  Henry  E.,  Speaks  at  social  reception,  295-299. 

Officers,  Joint  meeting  of,  2,  3,  4 ;  List  of,  428. 

Olivet  Presbyterian  Church,  Historical  sketch  of,  180-187. 

Organists,  Names  of,  117,  119. 

Organ  recitals.  Programme  of,  27,  28. 

Pastors,  List  of,  416. 

Patterson,  Rev.  William  P.,  Offers  invocation,  64;  Offers  prayer,  85, 
91  :  Sketch  of  Olivet  Presbyterian  Church,  by,  180-187. 

"  Paxtang  Boys,"  Defence  of,  57,  58. 

Paxtang  Presbyterian  Church,  Historical  sketch  of,  127-131. 

Pine  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  Historical  sketch  of,  148-158  :  Or- 
ganization of,  249,  250. 

Pipe  organ,  Account  of  first  recital  on,  118. 

Places  of  worship.  Different,  208,  209. 

Prayei'-meeting,  Institution  of,  237. 

Presbyterian  Church,  Division  of,  in  1837,  241-243  :  Action  of  the  con- 
gregation at  the  time  of  the  division  of,  243,  406-411. 

Presbyterianism.  Growth  of,  in  Harrisburg,  250-251. 

Programme  of  Centennial  Celebration,  18-26  ;  Changes  in,  8. 

Protestantism,  Early  divisions  of,  44-46 

Reception  committee  has  charge  of  the  social  reception,  275,  276. 


434  Centennial  Memorial. 

Revival  in  1875-6,  Account  of,  259-264;  Permanent  results  of,  262-264. 

Revivals  during  Dr.  De Witt's  ministry,  240. 

Reunion  of  Old  and  New  School  Churches,  256,  257. 

Rohinson,  Rev.  Thomas  H.,  Chosen  historian,  1;  Offers  prayer  62; 
addresses  Sunday  School  anniversary,  76,  77  ;  Participates  in 
Musical  Festival,  105 :  Introduction  of,  to  audience  on  Historical 
evening,  190,  191 ;  Historical  address  of,  192-272  ;  Called,  245 ; 
some  biographical  notes  of,  246  ;  Resignation  of,  267  ;  Pronounces 
the  benediction,  273  ,  Preaches  the  first  sermon  in  the  second 
century,  319  ;  Sketch  of,  368-372. 

Root,  William,  Sketch  of,  393. 

Rutherford,  W.  Franklin,  Speaks  at  social  reception,  300-303. 

Schenck,  Rev. 'Harris  R.,  Offers  prayer,  93. 

Scotch-Irish,  Origin  .  of,  47  ;  And  German  elements  in  Harrisburg, 
41-43. 

Scotch-Irish  churches  in  the  colonies  and  civil  power,  51,  52. 

Scotch-Irish  in  America,  Early  congregations  of,  53  ;  Early  parochial 
schools  of,  54  ;  Early  colleges  of,  55,  56  ;  Early  life  of,  56,  57. 

Scotch-Irish  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  Friends,  52-53. 

Scotch-Irish  migrations  to  America,  48-51. 

Seller,  Professor  Jacob  F.,  Sketch  of  Fine  Street  Presbyterian 
Church  by,  148-158. 

Skilling,  Rev.  David  M.,  Offers  invocation,  34;  Pronounces  bene- 
diction, 84  ;  Reads  the  Scripture,  86  ;  Presides  at  Musical  Festival, 
93  ;  Introduction  of  Mr.  Graydon  by,  95,  96  ;  Becomes  pastor's 
assistant,  269  ;  Leads  in  prayer,  273. 

Sloan,  Alexander.  Sketch  of,  388. 

Sloan,  Robert,  Sketch  of.  378. 

Snowden,  Gen.  Geo.  R.,  Speaks  at  social  reception,  286-289. 

Snowden,  Rev.  N.  R.,  Called  to  Harrisburg,  205  ;  Reminiscences  of, 
by  Col.  Thompson,  294;  Sketch  of,  207,  355-357. 

Social  Reception,  Impromptu  musical  programme  at,  277. 

Sterry,  Geo.  E.,  Address  of,  at  S.  S.  anniversary,  67-70. 

Stewart,  Geo.  B.,  Chosen  Chairman,  2  ;  Formally  announces  celebra- 
tion, 4  ;  Gives  account  of  the  preparations,  34  ;  Introduces  Dr. 
DeWitt,  35  ;  Gives  an  address  at  S.  S.  anniversary,  80 ;  Distri- 
butes the  wine  at  Communion  service,  91  ;  Incident  on  his  arrival 
in  Harrisburg,  119  ;  Gives  an  address,  132-148 ;  Presides  on  His- 
torical evening,  189 ;  Introduces  Dr.  Robinson,  190  ;  Called  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  church,  268  ;  Introduces  Judge  McPherson,  277  ; 
Preaches  second  sermon  in  second  century,  336-350. 

Stoner,  John,  Sketch  of,  376. 

Sub-Committees,  Names  of,  15,  16. 


Index.  435 

Sunday  School,  Report  of  Primary  Department,  64 ;  Exercises  by 
Primary  Department,  65,  66 ;  Report  of  Intermediate  Depart- 
ment, 70  ;  Exercises  by  Intermediate  Department,  71-75  ;  Report 
of  Senior  Department,  77,  78  ;  Report  of  Chinese  Department, 
79 ;  Report  of  Calvary  Chapel,  79 ;  Summary  of  annual  reports, 
79,  80 ;  Orig-in  of,  222-225 ;  Successive  Superintendents  of,  225,  228, 
229,  230  ;  Historical  sketch  of,  221-234. 

Thompson,  Col.  J.  Ross,  Speaks  at  social  reception,  290-295. 

Treasurers'  Accounts,  Early,  209,  210. 

Trustees,  List  of,  417. 

Wallace,  Dr.  Benj.,  Description  of  Harrisburg  by,  39-41. 

Weir,  J.  W.,  Refei-ences  to,  by  Dr.  J.  DeWitt,  41;  S.  S.  prize  fund 
established  by,  83  ;  Dr.  Robinson's  tribute  to,  230-232  ;  Incident  of 
his  last  blackboard  lesson,  232  ;  Sketch  of,  386. 

Weir,  John  A.,  Sketch  of,  896. 

Weir,  Samuel,  Sketch  of,  373. 

West,  Rev.  William  A.,  Presides  on  Wednesday  evening,  125  ;  Intro- 
duces representatives  of  the  Presbyterian  churches,  126,  131,  148, 
159,  167,  175,  180 ;  Leads  in  prayer,  187  ;  Pronounces  the  benedic- 
tion, 187. 

Westminster  Presbyterian  Church,  Historical  sketch  of,  176-180. 

Williamson,  Rev.  Albert  B.,  Participates  in  communion  service,  86  ; 
Sketch  of  Paxtang  Presbyterian  Church  by,  127-131. 

Woman's  Friday  prayer-meeting.  Incident  in  connection  with,  135  ; 
origin  of,  220. 

Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Organization  of,  in  Harrisburg,  248. 


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